Wanda Marie Callies

September 2, 1949 – March 23, 2017

Wanda passed away on March 23, 2017 at home surrounded by her loving family after a battle with lymphatic cancer. Wanda was born September 2, 1949 at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii, the daughter of Walter A. and Wanda M. (Bocker) Walden. As a member of a military family, she lived in Hawaii, Jacksonville, North Carolina, Pensacola, Florida and Jacksonville, Florida. Wanda graduated from Orange Park High School in Orange Park, Florida. She received a nursing degree from Jacksonville University and worked as an RN at St. Luke’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Wanda later received a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of San Diego and worked at University Hospital in San Diego.

On September 8, 1972 she married James A. Callies in Orange Park, Florida and together they raised daughters Susan and Jenelle and son Eric. Wanda loved sewing, making a variety of her own clothes, cooking and bowling. She bowled in three leagues as recently as December, 2016. She loved making Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the entire family, events of great anticipation and joy. Wanda enjoyed owls and accumulated a collection of owl figurines over the years. She also had a green thumb, nurturing a variety of house plants with great care. Wanda later sold AVON products for a number of years.

She was predeceased by both parents, her stepfather, stepmother and brother Walter (Skip) Walden. She is survived by her husband James, daughters Susan Callies and Jenelle Le Friant and son Eric Callies as well as three grandchildren. Also surviving are half-brothers Gary (Jenny) Walden of Seattle, Washington and David (Stacey) Cannington of Jacksonville, Florida and several nephews.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at Penasquitos Lutheran Church, 14484 Penasquitos Drive, San Diego, CA on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 2:00 pm.

It is requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.