Wanda L. Mlinarik

Wanda L. (Tietje) Mlinarik August 17, 1941 – September 14, 2025

Wanda, daughter of the late Ernest and Viola (Bern) Tietje, was a mother, homemaker, teacher and artisan. She grew up on her family farm near Hamler, Ohio. There she shared farm chores, church and school with her sister and brothers surrounded by a loving extended family steeped in German traditions, foods and polka.

The first in her family to attend college, Wanda studied education at BGSU. She made lifelong friends with the gang at the Lutheran Student Center and met the love of her life, Richard Mlinarik of Amherst, Ohio. They married in 1964 and built a home outside of Bowling Green, raising their three children in a country setting.

She taught elementary school in Sylvania, Westwood and Bowling Green and then devoted herself to raising her children. She later returned to the classroom as a substitute teacher. Wanda was quite the seamstress, taking in sewing projects, making clothes for her family - even men's suits and ties! Over time, her love of sewing grew into creative crafting projects. She became known for her handmade Santa dolls and later, her photocards featuring flowers and landscapes captured at home or during travels to visit her daughters in the West or family in Florida. A treasured memory was a trip to Germany with her sister filled with polka dancing and beer steins and castles!

Her artistic eye was most visible over the holidays and people would visit her forest of themed Christmas trees and beautiful cookies. Wanda carried her childhood farm skills into adulthood, tending gardens, preserving food, and sharing her creations. She was a longtime member of the BG Garden Club. She was famous for the very tall meringue on her peach pies.

Wanda had a strong faith and attended church her whole life, and in later years, was dedicated to caring for her parents as they aged. Sadly, her own memory began to fail, and she moved into memory care at Heritage Corner. She enjoyed the community and activities there for many years, particularly the ice cream cart and kindness of the staff. Her husband, Richard, was committed to her care until he died in 2019.

She greatly loved and enjoyed her three children, Kelli Marko (Jerry) of Lakewood, Colorado; Kim Mlinarik (Eric Fulgenzi) of Sandpoint, Idaho; and Brent Mlinarik of Bowling Green. She is survived by her children as well as her sister, Linda Logsdon of Marion, Ohio and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in Wanda's name to the Alzheimers's Association at www.alz.org

A visitation will be held on Sunday September 21, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Dunn Funeral Home located in the Historical District of Bowling Green, Ohio at 408 W. Wooster St. Her funeral service will be held on Monday September 22, 2025, at 11:00a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church located at 5039 County Rd. G. Deshler, Ohio 43516. Reverend Kurtis Freimuth will officiate. An additional visitation period will be held Monday at 10:00 a.m. until the time of her funeral service.