Wanda Lacy Bruens Carlgren Fredrickson, age 94, passed away on Sunday, April 8, 2018 surrounded by her family at Sunset Nursing Home, Concordia. She was born on Dec. 29, 1923 in Eldorado, Oklahoma to William Lacy and Lillian Lawrence. By the time she was 8 years old, both of her parents had passed away. She was then adopted by her half-sister Exie and her husband Harry Bruens. They gave her a good life, loved her and provided a wonderful home for her.
After high school, she met Clinton (Casey) Carlgren who was in the Army at the time. They married and he left during the war to Okinawa. When the war was over they were reunited and moved to Independence, Missouri. They had a daughter in 1947, Linda Diane, who passed away after only a few days from a heart defect. Shortly afterwards, they had another daughter, Brita Marie in 1948. They then moved to Kansas City and in five years had a son, Randy Clinton. A few years later, they moved to Wichita, Kansas where another son was born, Gregory Alfred. They stayed there about ten years. Casey, who was an auditor for the government was promoted to a position that required them to move every year for about 5 years. While living in Grand Island, Nebraska, Casey suffered a massive heart attack and died in 1971. Wanda continued to live there and raise two teenage boys. Brita had married and moved to California. Wanda had gone to church her entire life, but it was during this time that she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
On Aug. 2, 1980 in Grand Island, NE, Wanda married George Fredrickson, Jr. and then moved to Concordia where she found happiness once again. She loved being a farmer’s wife. She loved her new step children, her new church, friends and family. This was also the birth place of her former husband, Casey. She was also able at that time to get back to one of her favorite pastimes, sewing.
She will be remembered as a very loving mother and wife, totally devoted to her family and to God.
She is survived by her daughter, Brita Smith (Thomas), their children Amy Buric and Thomas Smith (Jessica), and her great-grandchildren Ava, Tommy and Savanna; son, Gregory Carlgren (Maggie) and their children Casey and Suzanne; her step-children, Steve Fredrickson (Linda) and daughter Lisa Dean (Troy) and Lisa’s son Travis; Debbie Pishny (Roger) and their children Jeff Pishny, Julie Gilmore and Jenny Thomas; Ric Fredrickson (Lynette) and their children Jenna and Abby, and several great grandchildren.
Wanda leaves behind her church family at the Baptist Church, many friends, the staff at Sunset Home and her long-time friends Marilyn and Jim Douglass.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Casey & George; daughter, Linda Diane and son, Randy.
Funeral services will be 10:00 am, Friday, April 13, 2018 at The Baptist Church with Pastor Jonathan Peppers & Pastor Al Paredes officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Concordia. Visitation will be Thursday, April 12, 2018 from 12-8 pm with family greeting friends from 6:30-8 pm, all at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia. The family suggests memorials to The Baptist Church or Sunset Nursing Home in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.