Wanda Lee Ensign (98) of Newton

Wanda Lee Ensign, age 98, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 5:49 AM - Friday, May 12, 2023, at Helia Healthcare of Newton, Illinois.

Funeral services celebrating Wanda’s life will be held at 11:00 AM – Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois, with Brad Mulvey officiating. The burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Effingham, Illinois. Visitation will be held 10:00 to 11:00 AM, at the funeral home. In loving memory of Wanda, memorials may be made to the Jasper County Cancer Support Fund, PO Box 333, Newton, Illinois 62448. The obituary can be viewed, and condolences left by clicking here.

Wanda Lee, was born December 7, 1924, the twin daughter of Edward Lawrence and Florence (Ferris) Farris.  On July 4th when she was 15, Wanda and her girlfriend Rosemary, went to Sullivan and she met Bob Ensign, and his neighbor Bill Clements. After that they started dating and were married on October 10, 1940, in Sullivan, Illinois, and he preceded her in death on January 20, 1996.

Wanda worked as a cook at the Stew-Stras School for several years, worked at Jansen’s Department Store and was a cashier at TSA Truck Stop in Effingham, Illinois.  Her favorite job of all time was showing garden produce and crafts at 16 county fairs, including the Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair.  It was a year around job, making crafts, sewing items to show, and preparing fancy decorated baskets for her vegetable displays.  She also did a great amount of canning, putting up over 400 quarts every summer, as well as filling two freezers and raising and dressing 400 chickens each year.

Wanda was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Newton.

Wanda enjoyed traveling and spending time with her big family.  She always looked forward to spring since it was her favorite time of the year.  She loved planting and caring for her huge gardens.

Wanda was an excellent cook and was an expert seamstress. She also greatly enjoyed sharing her cooking, canning and sewing skills with her daughters, daughters-in-law and granddaughters.

Wanda (Grandma Short) is survived by: Children – Roberta Ensign of Del City, Oklahoma; Rodger (Angela) Ensign of Pawnee, Oklahoma; Donna (Jerry) Woods of Newton, Illinois; and Jeff (Amy) Ensign of Bloomington, Illinois; Daughter-in-law – Jeri Sue Ensign of Effingham, Illinois; 17 Grandchildren; 40 Great Grandchildren with 1 on the way; 19 Great-great Grandchildren with 1 on the way; 1 Great-great-great Grandchild and 2 on the way.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Larry Ensign, infant child, twin sister Juanita Farris, brothers Vernon Farris and Floyd Farris.