Obituaries : Wanda Gulick

Wanda Gulick, 80, formerly of Belle Plaine, IA passed away on April 2, 2026 at home after a valiant and long battle with cancer.

 Wanda was born January 14,1946 to Amy (Beaman) and Fred Halfhill. She grew up on a farm where her favorite activities were feeding the baby calves and taking care of the baby chicks.  She graduated from Maquoketa Valley High School in 1964. In her youth she graduated from a medical assisting program, worked at Rockwell Collins and was a bartender.

She married the love of her life, Raymond Gulick, on March 31,1973. They had two wonderful daughters, Amy and Pamela. The couple moved to Belle Plaine and resided there for over 30 years. Wanda later moved to Waverly to be near her daughter and grandkids.

The family liked to attend local dances at the Legion, Khawk’s free country concerts, stock car races, Cattle Congress and the state fair.

Wanda was a stay-at-home mom when her children were younger. That time at home allowed her time for sewing wonderful dresses for her daughters’ concerts that were the envy of their classmates and award-winning Halloween costumes. She even made matching pajamas for her youngest, Pam, and her Cabbage Patch. She made a prom and wedding dress for her oldest daughter, Amy. 

Wanda grew African Violets, along without outdoor plants, and had a ginormous vegetable garden, the produce she would can and freeze for the winter.  She was also a great baker and was known for her delicious pies.

Wanda enjoyed music of all types.  She loved going to the school band and choir concerts.  She got to see her heart throb, George Straight, twice in concert.  After all the grandkids graduated, she liked attending the municipal band and other outdoor concerts.

Wanda collected salt and pepper shakers with well over 100 pairs. Her favorites were her lobsters and lightbulbs. 

For many years Wanda was a Girl Scout and 4-H leader.

When the girls got older, she went back to work at Benco Manufacturing where she stayed until she retired in 2011.

Wanda had 7 grandchildren, who she loved more than life itself.  She had the motto “what happens at Grandmas stays at Grandmas”.  She was their biggest cheerleader and attended all their activities.  She took all her grandbabies to the movies for the first time. Evey Saturday she took the kids to league bowling and to state when they qualified. She loved taking them to dance or scouts to get time with them. 

She passed down many traditions to her grandchildren, like the love of Christmas lights, making sugar cookies at Christmas, making pies from scratch, Black Friday shopping, love of fireworks and her love of theatre and music.

She is survived by her children, Amy (Fred) Rustin and Pamela Gulick; brother, Robert (Tamy)Halfhill; sister, Lyndall Weir; 7 grandchildren, Josh, Freddie, Georgia, Collin, Kelsey, Charity, and Andrew; and 5 great grandchildren.

Wanda was proceeded in death by her husband; parents; sisters, Gladys Primley, Betty Herman, Lois Halfhill, Geralda Wiig, Myrtle Kasner; and a brother, David Halfhill.

Funeral service is 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service, Belle Plaine, IA with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery, Belle Plaine, IA. Memorials may be directed to the family.