Wanda Nelson Zahler Obituary (1927 - 2016)

Wanda Nelson Zahler was born on August 29, 1927 in Logan, Utah to Nels Joseph Nelson and Lydia Wray. She was the seventh of eight children. Wanda passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 3, 2016. She had a good childhood even though she lived through the depression years. She had pneumonia and pleurisy in first grade. Her birthday was just before school started and they told her parents to keep her out until school started the following Fall. She had a good successful grade school education after that. Wanda had an idyllic childhood until she was 12 years old. Her father passed away and her good way of life was gone, things had really changed. When Wanda was in High School, she took shorthand very seriously. Wanda competed in a contest for the northern part of the state for girls taking shorthand and she was very surprised that she came in first. While attending Utah State University she met Val Zahler. She married him in the Salt Lake Temple, September 10, 1948. She went to work at Sears as payroll and personnel clerk. She also took dictation. When Val graduated they moved to Wendover, Utah where she taught English and Type. After they left Wendover they went to Payson and lived for a year. After which they moved to Salt Lake. Wanda worked for Hunt Foods and Associated Foods. After that she went to the University of Utah at age 40. She graduated with honors, Magna Cum Laude. She worked for Jordan School District at East Sandy, Sunrise, Willow Canyon, Crescent and Midvalley where she taught elementary school for twenty years. Wanda enjoyed teaching very much. Her priorities were husband, children and job. She held several positions in the LDS church. She enjoyed working at the temple doing sealing's. Wanda did many important things in her life, but her greatest work was done inside her home, raising and caring for her three children and her husband. She taught them well the value of hard work, and the importance of being honest and kind. She loved being a grandmother and doing things with her grandchildren. Wanda is survived by her husband, Val; son, Mark (Tracy); daughters, Robyn (Max) Berry, and Julie (Karl) Otteson; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren;brother, Kenneth (DeOn) Nelson and sister-in-law, Emma Jeane Nelson. The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the Highland Care Center and Valeo Hospice, for their professional, loving care given to Wanda in her final days. Funeral services will be Monday, September 12, 2016, 11 a.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State St., Murray, with viewings on Sunday, September 11th, from 5-7 p.m. and on Monday, 10-10:45 a.m.. Interment: Murray City Cemetery. Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary-Murray 4760 South State Street Murray, UT 84107