Wanda L. Maxson-Ladage

Dr. Wanda L. Maxson-Ladage, 89, of Parsons, passed away at 6:48 p.m., Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at Cherryvale Nursing and Rehab Center.

On December 5, 1929 Wanda was born to Irvin Ray and Geneva Irene (Duncan) Maxson in rural Edna, Kansas. Growing up in rural Edna, Wanda attended Hawkins rural school, Edna Grade School and graduated from Edna High School in 1947.

As a young woman, Wanda raised four little girls and worked in the Maxson Family Sale Barns and Ranch.  In the late 1960's she decided to continue her education. Wanda earned her Associate Degree of Nursing from Labette County Junior College in 1972.   She went on to Pittsburg State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1976 and a Master of Science in Technical Teaching in 1979 and a Master of Science in Education Specialist Degree in 1980. Wanda earned a Doctorate Degree in Adult and Occupational Education from Kansas State University in 1985.

In 1978, Wanda began teaching in the Labette Community College Nursing Program. She later served as the Director of the LCC Nursing Program until retiring in 1999. In 2012, Wanda was honored as a Labette Community College Cardinal Citee, the highest honor bestowed by the college to an individual for lifetime achievement.

Wanda was a member of the First Baptist Church in Altamont. Besides spending time with her family, Wanda had many interests. She enjoyed sewing, playing golf, swimming and traveling. She had visited every U.S. state and several foreign countries.

On May 19, 1979, she married Curt Ladage at the Church of the Brethren in Parsons. He preceded her in death on March 2, 2018.

Survivors Include:

Four Daughters – Penny Bennett of Independence, Missouri

Paula Wischnack of Topeka, Kansas

Kim McMunn and her husband, Terry, of Parsons, Kansas

Mona Garrett and her husband, Greg, of Altamont, Kansas

Eleven Grandchildren

Twenty-one Great-Grandchildren

She was preceded in death by her husband, Curt Ladage; her parents; four brothers; one sister; one son-in-law, Ben Bennett and one granddaughter, Diann Bennett.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 2, 2019, at the First Baptist Church in Altamont. Burial will follow at Springhill Cemetery in rural Parsons. The family will receive friends 6 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 1, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church in Altamont or the Labette Community College Foundation. These may be dropped off or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.