Wanda June Leffler (Née Demaline)

Wanda June Leffler (née Demaline) was born on June 12, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio and passed away peacefully on February 26, 2023 at nearly 95 years old.  Wanda was raised in Cleveland Ohio by her mother Agnes Swanson and had two sisters she was very close to, Doris and Clare.  She graduated from North Olmsted High School in 1946. In 1952 she moved to Los Angeles, CA where she worked for A. Morgan Maree, a financial investment firm whose clients were movie stars and other celebrities.  She had some wonderful stories to tell about her many contacts with the rich and famous in Hollywood.  She was married briefly which took her to the San Mateo, CA.  Then is 1964 she met William J. Leffler on a blind date.  Bill owned an air conditioning company in Mountain View,CA and was a widower with 6 children aged 3 to 17. After a brief courtship they married in August 1963 and the family joined together in San Mateo, CA.  In 1969 the family moved to Los Altos, CA where they lived until Bill retired in 1977, once the youngest child graduated high school. Then Bill and Wanda retired to Boise, ID.

Wanda and Bill were married for 42 years, until Bill passed away in 2005, enjoying about 14 years in California together with their growing family, followed by about 28 lovely retirement years in Idaho. During their long marriage they traveled the world, enjoyed skiing together, and developed their talents for photography.  Wanda was a self-taught seamstress and in addition to making stunning outfits for herself, also made wedding dresses, ski outfits and Pendleton shirts.  She excelled at any arts & craft she tried and did beautiful and original stained glass work, mosaics, needlework, knitting, and enjoyed bonsais and orchids.  She was an excellent golfer and a fiercely competitive duplicate bridge player.  She achieved the rank of Life Master in bridge.

Wanda established Two Sisters Travel agency with her sister Doris which started a period of cruising all over for the sisters. They organized many group tours through their agency.  When the sisters were all widowed the cruising they continued cruising, often taking two or three cruises a year.

Wanda still had endless energy and then worked for Meadow Lake Village while it was in progress helping to show houses and coordinate events and activities. Wanda and Bill were among the earliest residents of Meadow Lake Village in Meridian, Idaho.  After Bill’s death in 2005, her widowed sister, Doris moved in with Wanda and they were inseparable for the rest of their lives.

Wanda is survived by her 6 children:  Bill Jr.(Dianne); Bob (Jill); Tom (Cathy); Mary; Jimmy (Jing); and Margie Maseda (Randy ); her 2 sisters Doris Johnston and Clare Christiansen;

12 grandchildren; Todd Leffler, Tammie Martinez and Chad Leffler (Bill & Dianne’s);

Stacey Ravetta and Jennifer Dunne (Bob & Jill’s),

Rachael Putnam and Jonathon Leffler (Tom & Cathy’s)

Betsy Bailey and Bob Gill ( Mary’s),

JC Leffler and Madison Leffler (Jimmy’s) and

Megan Spain (Margie’s).

AND 12 great grandchildren!: Sydney, Kendall and Regan Leffler (Todd’s);

Will and Hazel Leffler (Chad’s);

Dacoda Byington (Tammie’s);

Matthew Ornelas and Nicholas Dunne (Jennifer Dunne’s);

Ethan and Sarah Putnam (Rachael Putnam’s);

Aiden and Beckett Bailey (Betsy’s).

Wanda’s ashes will be laid to rest with Bill at Holy Cross Cemetery in Menlo Park, CA as well as her mother Agnes Swanson in Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise, ID.  A celebration of life will be held in California Mother’s Day weekend.  A gathering will also be scheduled at the Lodge at Meadow Lake Village, date to be determined.