Wanda Gertz

Wanda Lynne Gertz, 55, Washburn, passed away on March 27, 2023, at CHI St. Alexius in Bismarck, ND.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 7, at Shepherd of the Valley Church, 801 E Denver Ave, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held 5:00-7:00 PM, Thursday, April 6, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E Divide Ave, Bismarck.

Interment will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, April 11, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Wanda was born on May 28, 1967, and raised in Mandan, ND. She enjoyed many things in life. Anytime she was with her family she had a smile upon her face. Wanda’s love and passion for helping those in need will always be her legacy. Wanda married Bryan Gertz on April 16, 2004, in Bismarck. They had seven children that they loved and raised together.

She had a dream to work with troubled kids. One of her dreams was to be a Youth Bureau Officer. Wanda ran an in-home daycare for many years. She loved traveling, camping, playing music (Bass Guitar), and riding her Harley. You could often find her crocheting or playing Canasta.

Wanda loved every moment she got to spend with her children and grandchildren. She was the go-to person for the best advice. If she didn’t have an answer; she was going to keep going until she found an answer. There were many days and nights we would have one-on-ones with (Mama/Grandma) in her room. Whether it was for advice, to learn crafting, or to watch her favorite shows with her.

She said that when “God was ready for her, she would be ready for him, but in the meantime she was going to make the best of each day she had here with us.” Wanda had a bucket list of things that she was adamant and dreamt of doing. Her bucket list included jury duty, riding her Harley with Bryan along the upper wing of the East Coast and through NYC, to visit New Orleans, and to continue to travel every chance she got.

Wanda had a fiery spirit that we all admired and adored. There are truly not enough words to explain how she touched lives everywhere she went. Wanda was an organ donor, even in her final moments here on earth; she was able to successfully gift someone else’s life with her liver.

Wanda is survived by her husband, Bryan Gertz, Washburn; mother, Lavern (Wetch) Haugen, Mandan; brother, Todd (April) Haugen, Casa Grande, AZ; sisters, Kathy Barnhardt and Cindy (Jerry) Golke, Mandan; children, Jessica (Joda) Delkamp, Bismarck, Tammy Peirce, Mandan, Travis Stevens, Bismarck, Katie (Eric) Oelschlager, Mandan, Christian (Shanwia) Gertz, Lincoln, Kristi (Casey) Brewer, Washburn, and Austin Peterson, Mandan; grandchildren, Dylan Costner, Lathan Peirce, Jaydan Peirce, Sakari Gertz, Trae Gertz, Rhilynn Oelschlager, Angel Brewer, Ayden Gertz, Hazelle Oelschlager, Dante Brewer, and Rowan Oelschlager; many nieces and nephews; and her fur-babies, Keisha, Baby, Toby and Lily.

She is joined in Heaven with her father, Harold Haugen; sister-in-law, Stacy Haugen; and nephew, David Barnhardt.