In Memory of Wanda O. Carrier

Wanda O. Carrier, age 94, of Huxley, Iowa, formerly of Odebolt, Iowa passed away Friday, January 20, 2017 at the Northcrest Community, of Ames, Iowa.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 30, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church of Odebolt, Iowa. The Pastor Bill Crawford will officiate, with committal services following in the Odebolt Cemetery of Odebolt, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 30, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church of Odebolt, Iowa. The Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com

Wanda Oralee Carrier was born on January 3, 1923, on a farm north of Woodbine, Iowa, to Lawrence and Emma Lewis Schneider. She began her education at Mud Creek country school near Woodbine, and finished 8^th grade after her family moved to a farm east of Dunlap.

In 1939, shortly after her family moved to a farm east of Woodbine, Wanda met Gerald (Jerry) Carrier, whom she married on January 4, 1940.  The newly-weds lived on a farm east of Spirit Lake until 1942.  Jerry was subsequently employed in a packing plant in Omaha, Nebraska.  When Jerry was drafted into the army in 1943, Wanda accompanied him to army bases at Camp Hood in Texas, Camp Carson in Colorado, and Fort Jackson in North Carolina.  Upon Jerry’s deployment to the World War II Italian campaign, Wanda lived with her parents in Woodbine, where her first son, Dennis Edwin Carrier, was born on December 31, 1944.  Following Jerry’s discharge from military service in 1945, the couple established and operated Carrier Auto Service in Odebolt, Iowa.  Her second son, Ronald Louis Carrier, was born on October 16, 1946.  Wanda assisted Jerry in the operation of Carrier Auto Service until 1983.  During this time Wanda completed her education by obtaining her GED certificate. 

She was also employed as a school bus driver for the Odebolt-Arthur School District for 33 years.  Wanda was recognized by the Des Moines Register for the distinction of being Iowa’s first female school bus driver, a job from which she retired in 1984. The Carriers lived on an acreage at 350 Pine Street and operated a lawn mower and small engine repair business until 2002.  After Jerry’s death in 2004, Wanda moved to 209 West 5^th Street in Odebolt.  Wanda had also suffered the death of both her sons.  Ron died on March 14, 1992, and Dennis died on July 30, 2008. 

Wanda enjoyed playing cards and associating with her many friends.  She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Odebolt and served as both an elder and deacon of that congregation.  She also belonged to the Ladies Aid, the VFW Auxiliary, and American Legion Auxiliary. In November of 2013 Wanda moved to the Ballard Creek Assisted Living facility in Huxley, Iowa.

Wanda was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry; her two sons, Ronald and Dennis; her parents, Lawrence and Emma Schneider; her brothers, Orville and Carl Schneider; her sisters Vivian Reis of Denison, Bernese Barnum of Logan, Bessie Reis of Hot Springs, South Dakota, Angie Purcell of Woodbine, and Opal Schneider, who died in infancy. 

She is survived by her four grandchildren, Brad, Jennifer, Cristen, and Cameron; five great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials for Wanda may dedicated to Ballard Creek Assisted Living, 908 N. Highway 69, Huxley, Iowa  50124.