Wanda Maxine (Pool) Blessing died Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Wanda was born on November 2, 1925 at home in Humeston, Iowa to Albert Alphus and Rosie May (Kalkes) Pool. She attended her elementary and high school years in Humeston and graduated in 1945. She played basketball, softball, sang in the chorus and participated in class plays throughout high school.

After high school her first job was working as an operator at the telephone office in Humeston. In 1948 she moved to Des Moines where she worked part time as a switchboard operator for Meredith Publishing and then returned home to help with her ill father. She moved back to Des Moines and worked for Des Moines Waterworks as a switch board operator until 1950. Over the years she worked on and off for Equitable of Iowa and other odd jobs which included Hy-Vee, National Hand Crafts and Casey's in Maxwell.

Wanda married Gerald Otto Blessing on January 21, 1950, and to this union four children were born; Yvonne, Sandra, Guy and Colleen plus two stepchildren; Craig and Mark (Sandy) Blessing. They lived in Des Moines, Bondurant, and Maxwell.

Wanda's hobbies included reading, dancing, (jitter bug and big band), sewing, love for the family and spending time with her friends. After her husband's retirement in 1982, they traveled to many places. Wanda belonged to the ICU Club in Maxwell, the Bondurant Sewing Club, and the Mission Sewing Group in Maxwell, plus volunteered for numerous church activities.

Wanda grew up attending the Christian Church in Humeston and was active in the youth group called Christian Endeavors. She was baptized at the age of 16 when she accepted Christ as her Savior. The church was an important part of Wanda's life, and she was a member of the Maxwell Methodist Church.

She is survived by her daughters: Yvonne (James) Frost of Des Moines and Sandra Blessing of Des Moines; her son: Guy Blessing of Maxwell, and step-sons, Mark (Sandra) Blessing of Des Moines and Craig Blessing; her grandchildren: Teresa (Kelly) Van Valkenburg, Chad Hedlund, Wayne Hedlund, Jeremy Blessing, Joshua (Lindsey) Beauregard, Mark (Margarita) Blessing, Leeanne Harris, also her sisters-in-law: Pat Pool and Ann Pool; six great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She will be missed by many nieces, nephews, family, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Gerald, her parents, her daughter, Colleen Beauregard, her sister and brother-in-law, Irene (Garth) Rockhold, her brother and sister-in-law Calvin (Chieko) Pool, her brothers, Melvin, Raymond, Carroll Pool, her granddaughter Kelsi Angeline Van Valkenburg and grandson Zachary Beauregard.

A visitation will be held at 11:00 am. Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home (422 First Street) in Maxwell. A memorial service will follow beginning at Noon Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home. Inurnment will follow at Maxwell Cemetery in Maxwell, Iowa.

Services will be live streamed and be accessed by going to www.rasmussonfh.com, click on Wanda's photo, then tribute wall.

Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.rasmussonfh.com