Mary Lou Wander

Mary Lou was born in Ann Arbor on April 22, 1924 to Louis and Lydia Belle Andrews. She graduated from Ann Arbor High School and the University of Michigan. After graduating from college Mary Lou moved to Washington DC to help with the war effort deciphering and decoding Japanese transmissions. It was there that she met her husband of 66 years, Richard John Wander. They were married on Sept 7, 1946 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Ann Arbor where they settled and raised their family of seven children. Richard Wander preceded her in death on Feb 17, 2013.

Mary Lou and Rich were founding members of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Ann Arbor, and in later years worshipped at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dexter. In her younger years Mary Lou (“Louie,” as she was known to her girlfriends) enjoyed playing golf, her Wednesday night bowling league, and monthly bridge nights with her friends, calling themselves the “Moonbeams” and the “Sunbeams.” Mary Lou worked at the VA hospital for a number of years before retirement. She was an avid fan of the University of Michigan and the Detroit Tigers, and loved following the professional golf tour. After retirement Mary Lou and Rich spent the winters at Desert Aire Resort in Indio, CA where Mary Lou made many friends and was well known as one of the park’s top shuffleboard players. Mary Lou loved a game of bridge or Scrabble, card games with her children and grandchildren, family summer vacations Up North, and the occasional trip to the casino. She spent the last 6 years at Chelsea Retirement Community, where she continued to make new friends and was loved by many. Her competitive spirit, which she passed to all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, continued at Dancey House where she was often the monthly Spelling Bee champion. She cherished the time spent with her bridge pals at CRC.

Mary Lou is survived by her children James (Susan), Martha Richard (Louis), Peggy Klein (Douglas), Patricia Sellinger (Daniel), David (Julie), Joseph (Toni) and Jane Anderson (Brett), grandchildren Katherine, Elizabeth, Michael, Steven, Christopher, Anne, Peter, Erica, Alayne, Courtney, Elise, Michelle, Mark, Patrick, Emily and Joel, and great-grandchildren Tanner, Lorelei, Douglas, Julia, Bella, Reese, Brynn, Sam, Adele, Griffin, Janine, Thea, and Lily.

The family would like to thank her special friends and caregivers at CRC for the love and care they provided to our mother. Memorial donations may be made to the Benevolent Care Fund at UMRC Foundation, Chelsea MI (https://umrc.com/online-donation-page/).