Wanda Faye Hickman

1937 - 2025

Wanda Faye Edelman Hickman passed away Nov. 4, 2025, at Brookestone Gardens in Kearney, Neb. The daughter of Clifford and Dorothy McCawley Edelman, Wanda was born in Hyannis Jan. 19, 1937.

She spent her early years living on a ranch north of Hyannis where her father was a ranchhand on the Dumbell Ranch. She attended her first four years of education at the Red Mill rural school.

The Edelmans, with daughters Wanda, Doris and Kay, moved to Thedford where Cliff was foreman of the Flying A Cattle Company. Wanda completed her elementary and secondary education in Thedford, graduating in 1955 as Valedictorian of her class.

She was active in the music and athletic programs. She played sousaphone in the band and sang in the glee-club. She served as a piano accompanist when not performing. Wanda was an excellent student, winning multiple awards. If there was an award to be won, Wanda won it!

She was an avid volleyball enthusiast. Her love of playing volleyball continued throughout her early adult life.

Wanda was an avid reader. She told of how her mother took her to the Thedford Thomas County Library every Friday to check out five books, and of having read every book in the library at least once. She would then add, "If she would have known what I was reading..."

Following graduation, Wanda taught one year in the Ewoldt rural school before moving to Missouri with her parents. She worked as a medical secretary in Springfield, Mo., before marrying Dee Hickman while he was on leave from Military Basic Training.

Wanda attended Kearney State College and worked as a waitress while Dee spent 13 months in Korea. Upon Dee's release from the military, Wanda served as a medical secretary at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln, and a secretary at the University of Nebraska. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Business Education from the University of Nebraska and taught classes at Lincoln High Night School until their daughter, Elizabeth, was born.

Wanda was a devoted, wonderful wife and stay-at-home mom and foster mom for the State of Nebraska for new babies awaiting adoption. When they purchased a Coast-to-Coast Hardware store in Sterling, Colo., she was the business manager of that very successful enterprise as well as two other successful businesses, was a color consultant as well as a wellness practitioner.

Wanda was an excellent pianist who could play by the hour without a sheet of music. If there was a piano in the room, she would be playing it, if appropriate. A nephew said, "I can see Wanda in heaven, playing the piano."

Wanda is survived by her husband Dee; their three children Elizabeth Terrel of Oak Park, Ill., Clarke (Ericka) Hickman of Centennial, Colo. and Kathryn Hickman of Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; grandchildren Isaac, Justin and Emilee; great-grandson Dean; sister Kay Schroder and niece Jackie Schroder, of Hay Springs; brother Dean (Nancy) Edelman of Ashby; sister-in-law Doris Myers Bowen of Oconto; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.