Wanda Lee Viola (Monroe) Gano, born in Graham County, Kansas, May 30, 1933, passed away peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus on the morning of March 3, 2023, at the age of 89 years old.
Wanda
spent her early childhood in Graham County. Then she moved with her
mother Viola, and stepdad, Hobart Goff, to Tacoma, Washington in the
midst of World War II where Hobart served as a welder building ships for
the US Navy and Viola served in areas of support work for the Navy.
While in Tacoma, Wanda recalled that she and her sister, Wilma, would
often go to movies on Saturdays. At the close of World War II, the
family moved back to Graham County Kansas where Wanda continued her
education in local schools.
At the age of 14, while
attending church services in Morland, Kansas, she felt someone was
watching her. It just so happened to be the young man that she would
marry someday. His name? Gordon Gano. A short time later the pastor of
the church asked Gordon if he would give Wanda a ride home after one of
the church services. He gladly obliged. Love blossomed and grew into a
loving, lasting relationship of marriage and family.
October 3, 1950, Gordon and Wanda were united in marriage and ultimately celebrated 64 years of marriage before Gordon passed away March 20, 2015. They began married life by building a home in southwest Graham County and farmed with Gordon’s family.
Their first of
four children, Jerry Gordon Gano, was born the first summer of their
married life. Three years later on the same summer date, a second boy,
Gary Jordon Gano, was born into the family. Then, some 15 months later
brother Larry Dwayne Gano joined the family. And finally, about four
years later, Clifford Kerry Gano, was delivered into the family to make
it complete.
Some of the highlights of family life
over the years included: annual summer vacations; fishing trips to local
creeks, ponds, and lakes; going to church whenever the doors were open;
and working together on the family farm.
In earlier years of family life, Gordon and Wanda worked to raise large gardens, as well as care for some rabbits, chickens, pigs, and cattle. Wanda was always busy baking, cooking, and sewing, not only to adequately provide for her family, but to be a blessing to others as much as possible. Her homemade breads were the best in the world (at least in our humble opinion). She also enjoyed reading, and when done with books she had purchased, she would delightfully pass them along to others, to enjoy reading. She always saw to it that her boys were taken to the library in hopes they would acquire a love for reading. In later years, Wanda and Gordon had the opportunity and privilege to take extended trips to places such as: The Holy Lands, Mexico, Hawaii, Aruba, and a Caribbean cruise.
In
Wanda’s most recent years, she became a regular contributor to the Hill
City Times newspaper, submitting personal stories from her life and
faith. Many in the community truly enjoyed reading them and always
looked forward to more. Wanda also continued to live out her strong
faith and prayer ministry. She was a prayer warrior by no stretch of the
imagination. Something special she did, as led by the Lord, was to
organize prayer cloths that were sent to family members in great need.
This act of faith and prayers did, in fact, bring about healing and
encouragement to those specific needs. Praise the Lord!
Wanda loved her family. But more importantly, she loved the Lord and the Lord’s Church. She exemplified a Proverbs 31 woman, lived and served her life as unto the Lord, and was faithful and generous with what the Lord blessed her with. Her faith and relationship with God certainly would have inspired untold people. Wanda has entered her well-deserved eternal rest, and now stands before her Lord hearing the kind, gentle, loving words spoken to her, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Wanda is preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Viola and Hobart; her husband, Gordon; a daughter-in-law, LaDonna; a sister, Wilma; a brother, Tom; four baby great-grandchildren: twins: Tamika Sue Sanders and Camille Ann Sanders, Blake Lee Gano and Andy Gene Gano; and in addition, numerous other extended family members. Surviving family members include four sons: Jerry of Hill City, Kansas; Gary (Vickie) Gano of Hays, Kansas; Larry (Anita) Gano of Colbert, Washington; and Clifford (Janet) Gano of Jasonville, Indiana; 13 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and in addition, numerous other extended family members. Wanda leaves behind her family and friends.
We pray God’s comfort over each of them. Her stay at Dawson Place of Hill City was a blessing and a place where she appreciated the love and care of staff and fellow residents.
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