Wanda Handy

Wanda Madge Handy passed away at home the morning of March 9, 2018, after a long and difficult battle with COPD. She was born March 4, 1929, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the youngest child of Ephraim Nielsen and Rose Schlottie Lyman Nielsen. She grew up on a farm between Idaho Falls and Ammon, and attended schools in Idaho Falls, graduating from Idaho Falls High School. Wanda married Herman Buck Handy in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on August 26, 1955. They lived in Idaho Falls, first east of town, and when the city started growing around them, they moved south of town. They raised large vegetable and flower gardens, a few cows, pigs, chickens, and boys. Together they raised five fortunate sons, Dale, Gene, Norman, Kevin, and Brian. Home production and storage was a central tenet our parents held, and those sons grew up eating like kings, never suspecting how threadbare the purse was. Mom had a wonderful green thumb and shared her abundant garden produce with family and neighbors. She filled her shelves with home-canned produce. She loved flowers and could persuade nearly any plant to grow and thrive. She always had a tender heart for animals, especially those that were wounded or orphaned, and loved many dogs and cats over the years. She was very talented at needlework, knitting many sweaters, mittens, hats, and afghans for family over the years. She loved to decorate for each holiday, and her children and grandchildren enjoyed the wonders of each. Birthdays were always special times. Christmas was magical with her crocheted snowflakes and other fun decorations on the tree and doilies on the tables. She found great joy in having her grandchildren around her. She acquired many books and encouraged a love of reading and learning in her family. Our parents also instilled in their children the value and satisfaction of hard work. Mom also loved music, and several albums became treasures enjoyed in the home. Mom had a large cache of board games which were a joy to choose from at the end of a long day. Wanda loved her siblings, nieces and nephews, and enjoyed visiting with or calling them when she could. Such visits would brighten her days as her illness progressed. She is survived by her four sons, Dale (Connie) Handy, Gene (Xiomara) Handy, Norman Handy, and Kevin Handy, all of Idaho Falls, daughter-in-law, Mayumi (Brian, deceased) Yamamoto Handy of Shizuoka, Japan, a sister, Afton Howlett of Idaho Falls, sister-in-law, Gladys (Gordon) Martinell of Dell, MT, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Herman, son Brian, brother, Floyd (Joy) Nielsen, and her ten half-siblings. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 17, 2018, at the Idaho Falls Taylor View Ward, 1291 West 6500 South, with Bishop Scott Cook officiating. The family will visit with friends from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Taylor Cemetery.

Funeral Services will be held