Obituary of Wanda Evelyn Steffens

Wanda Evelyn Steffens passed away surrounded by family on July 11, 2018 in Wasilla, Alaska, a day after her 87th birthday. Wanda was born to Jay Gould Muncy and Dixie Ester Reynolds Muncy in Louisa, Kentucky at her Aunt and Uncles home, July 10, 1931 on Lick Creek. She was one of seven siblings raised on the family’s 33 acre farm. As a child living during the depression she learned hard work, to persevere and to never give up. The loss of her father at a young age instilled upon her heart just how sacred and limited life was so babies were precious gifts. She disliked discord and would urge family forgiveness and unity. The early death of her father resulted in her leaving school after her 8th grade graduation to work in the city and help her older brother, followed by her younger brother in support of the family left at home. As a waitress she earned a special promotion and became the first female Bartender in Cincinnati, Ohio. Marrying Doran “Al” Ryan, a civil service lineman she found herself on a plane to Fairbanks, Alaska in the summer of 1954 to visit for two weeks, but never left Alaska. Wanda loved being a mother, cooking, sewing clothes, gardening, watching birds and caring for her family and pets. She moved to Homer, Alaska then to Anchorage just in time for the 1964 Earthquake. As the men were called to help out their neighbors she stayed home and fed the neighborhood from her pot of beans and ham which had stayed on the stove top intact. Returning to new construction in Fairbanks she again experienced a disaster with the1967 flood, and again fed those in need from an old Coleman stove placed on a raised deck above the flood waters where she cooked meals from a freezer as moose, bear and other game meat thawed. Truly a Pioneer she believed in helping others, joining the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, American Legion, Moose, Real Alaskan’s and other civil clubs. She married Oscar Michael (Mike) Steffens in 1975 and cared for him until he passed away. A new chapter of her life opened after a trip to Ireland when at 64 years young she met Fr. Ernie Muellerleile and began to study the Catholic faith with Sr Joan Oberle and Deacon Couple Bill and Diane Finnegan. She was Baptized at Holy Cross Catholic church in Anchorage where she remained a member until her death as well as attending the Catholic Chapel at Providence Horizon House where she lived. GG loved planning for the holidays with an abundance of food, decorations, family and friends and always had an extra plate and genuine invitation ready for anyone without a family. GG as she was affectionately known by her family will be greatly missed by her daughter Sherry Tunilla, husband Bill Tunilla of Wasilla, Alaska; step children, Vincent Steffens and Sandy Erps and their families of Canon City, Colorado; granddaughter Shanna Steffens of Dix, Illinois, Michael Tunilla of Anchorage, Alaska, Anastasia Houk, husband, Joshua Houk of Wasilla, Alaska; Joseph Tunilla of Anchorage, Alaska; Kaitlyn Orlowski, husband, Connor Orlowski of JBER, Alaska; Jason Tunilla, wife Kenzie Tunilla of Anchorage and Bobbi McClure of Las Cruces, New Mexico; great-grandchildren, Marissa, Miranda and Mireya Maldonado of Dix, Illinois; Corey Tunilla of Las Cruces, New Mexico; Kyle Tunilla, Wasilla, Alaska; Jayden, Aurora and Julein Houk of Wasilla, Alaska and Kameron Tunilla of Anchorage, Alaska.

Wanda is survived by siblings, Reynolds Ray Muncy of Rochester, Indiana, Mexie Mabel Muncy of Louisa, Kentucky, Violet Ruth Muncy of Dayton, Ohio and Louise Virginia Muncy Davis, husband Dorsey Davis of Lexington, Ohio and sister-in-law Opal Muncy as well as beloved cousins and generations of nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and siblings, Bennett Wade Muncy and Bernice Mae Muncy Thompson and step-children, Johnny Steffens and Rodney Steffens and grandson, Michael Steffens. Please join family and friends on July 20th at 11:00 AM at Holy Cross Catholic Church at 2627 Lore Road in Anchorage, Alaska 99507 as we celebrate her funeral Mass. A Christian memorial service will also be held in early September 1, 2018 at 11:00 AM at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, 1121 Meadowbrook in Louisa, KY 41230 with burial to follow at the Muncy Cemetery in Louisa, Kentucky.