Wanda L. TAPPE

Wanda L. Tappe, 78, of 5013 Lake Ridge Drive, Quincy, died at 6:15 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 17, 2010) in Good Samaritan Home. 

She was born June 4, 1932, in Quincy, the daughter of Leland and Leona Dowling Wiseman. On Nov. 11, 1950, she married Melvin E. Tappe in Quincy. He died on July 11, 1992. 

She was a 1949 graduate of Quincy High School and went on to attend Western Illinois University. She was a member of The Crossing Church. Wanda was involved in many things over the years. In addition to owning the Broadway Dress Shop, she was one of the founding members of WGCA Christian radio station and in 1987 she became the president of the station. In 2001 she won the Mrs. West Central All American Tristate Beauty contest. She mentored children at St. Dominic School for years. She was a past president for the Salvation Army Auxiliary. Being very involved at The Crossing Church, she hosted a hand-in-hand bereavement group for widows in her home. She also hosted reading prayer groups in her home for years. She always loved to go to sporting events with family. She was always willing to get involved, if it was going to help others. 

Survivors include a daughter, Terri Conner and her husband, Mark, of Austin, Texas; four sons, Ted Tappe and his wife, Raina, Tim Tappe and his wife, Diane, Tony Tappe and his wife, Kathy, and Marty Tappe, all of Quincy; 11 grandchildren, Mathew Steward of Austin, and Heather McSweeney of Mesa, Ariz., Nick Tappe, Luke Tappe, Alyson Tappe and Austin Tappe, all of Quincy, Andy Tappe of Chicago, Alex Tappe of Quincy, Taylor Tappe of Champaign, David Lemieux of Quincy and Savannah Smith of Quincy; five great-grandchildren, Darion Hammond, Jacob and Abigail McSweeney, Alexa Lake and Ayden Tappe; a sister, Sharon Schmelzle and her husband, Mel, of Greenwood, Ind.; and two sisters-in-law, Donna Tappe of Quincy and Winona Kistner of Charlotte, N.C. 

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents.

SERVICES: Were Oct. 22 at The Crossing, with the Rev. Jerry Harris and the Rev. Tom Waters officiating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery.

MEMORIALS: WGCA, The Crossing or the Salvation Army Hometown Endowment

ARRANGEMENTS: Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.whig.com.