Wanda M. Ohaver

Wanda Marie Ohaver, 90, of Farmington, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2023, at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria. She was born at home on September 3, 1933, in Aledo, Illinois, to Harlan and Dorothy (Wood) Johnson. She graduated from Aledo High School as the valedictorian of her class. When she was in grade school, she told her girlfriend that she was going to marry Delano Ohaver one day when she saw him in the hallway, and she did on her 20th birthday. They were married 69 years. She and Delano attended Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois. They then moved to Champaign-Urbana for Delano to attend veterinary school at the University of Illinois. During that time, she worked at the music library at the university while attending classes. In 1957, they moved to Farmington. Wanda called herself Delano's "office girl," as she answered the phone and set up appointments for his veterinary practice.

Wanda loved people and relationships. She found much happiness sitting at her kitchen table visiting with family and friends over coffee and her delicious pies. Their door was open to everyone! They housed actors and actresses who worked at the dinner theater in Farmington and hosted exchange students from Brazil and France. For many years in the fall, she and Delano had an apple cider stand and a popcorn wagon (made by Delano at her request!) at the Spoon River Scenic Drive. Wanda was a Mary Kay consultant for decades and, once again, loved the social aspect of selling cosmetics. She and Delano owned rental properties in Farmington, and she always enjoyed chatting with the tenants. She loved writing letters, sending cards, and talking on the phone.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Farmington and P.E.O. Chapter AE for over 60 years. Wanda was an avid reader and seamstress. Among the many items she made through the years were prom dresses, Halloween costumes, and doll clothes. She even made her wedding suit for her high school home economics class.

She loved doing daily crossword puzzles with Delano, watching "Gunsmoke" reruns, "Jeopardy!," "Wheel of Fortune," and her favorite movie, Dirty Dancing.

Wanda is survived by two daughters, Mary (David) Moermond of Des Moines, Iowa, and Susan (Dino) Vlahos of Sleepy Hollow, Illinois; two granddaughters, Olivia Vlahos of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and Taylor Desmond of Crystal River, Florida; one great-granddaughter, Rilee Jo; one sister, Sandra Powell of Aledo and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, Joe; three sisters, Connie Johnson, Judy Newton, and Peggy Brooks; and two brothers, James "Butch" Johnson and Kenny Johnson.

Services will be held at Anderson-Sedgwick Funeral Home, 341 E. Fort Street, Farmington, Illinois. The visitation will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2023, from 5:00-7:00 P.M. The funeral service will be held on Friday, December 1, 2023, at 10:30 A.M. Pastor Linda Philabaun will officiate. After the burial at Oakridge Cemetery, a soup luncheon will be served by the Presbyterian women at the church.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Farmington or the Lulu Corkhill Williams Friendship Fund (7128).