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With great sadness the families of Wanda Pearl Poulson, age 95, announce her passing on August 10, 2025. The daughter of George and Opal (Brewster) Lantry, Wanda was born in Blair, NE, on April 3, 1930. She attended the Blair schools, and graduated from Blair High School in 1948.

In 1949 she married Russell Poulson. They were married for 23 years, had two children and was widowed at the age of 42. She is survived and missed by her children: Gary Poulson (Ammanivone), Sally Poulson Baertschi (Paul); grandsons: Alan Baertschi (Kandace) and Garrett Poulson; great-grandchildren Alivia Baertschi and Weston Baertschi; sister-in-law Peggy Lantry, and nieces, nephews and friends.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents: George and Opal Lantry; husband Russell Joel; sister Norma Jean Anderson; brothers Ray Edward Lantry and Lee Gordon Lantry; and granddaughter Alysia Marie Baertschi.

Wanda spent the majority of her life as a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and aunt, great-aunt and second mother of several friends as well.

She was an excellent cook, and used her skills in the kitchen of the local hospital for 10 years before her retirement. During that time, she took a leave of absence to care for her grandson in Minnesota when her granddaughter was in the hospital for several months during a bone marrow transplant.

She enjoyed traveling to new places with her son or her daughter, including travels to Europe, Australia and the Caribbean.

She was very artistic, creating beautiful paintings and ceramic pieces. She was also talented at painting or staining rooms and furniture, leaving that mark in many different homes till she was 89. Even at that age she could help paint a room with her younger children sometimes until 1 in the morning.

We greatly appreciated her amazing journey through life, living through a depression, a world war and the rapid changes of this era. In her elder years, she greatly enjoyed playing bingo, shopping for bargains, and going out to eat. She was a member of the Hillside Christian Church, Heritage Club, Royal Neighbors and VFW.

A life well lived is one who deeply cares for one another. A sense of humor and quick wit, a stallion in hard times, a helper to all, and one who loved her family well was our beloved Mom, Mother, GG, Wanda. And she will be missed by many.

Wanda started her Alzheimer's journey at the age of 90. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Hillside Christian Church in Blair. Visitation will be held prior to service beginning at 10 a.m. at the church. Graveside services will be held in the Blair Cemetery with a reception at the church to follow.

Services by Campbell Aman Funeral Home, Blair, Nebraska.

~~~from obituary courtesy of the Washington County, Nebraska Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

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