LaWanda Jane Wiens

LaWanda Jane (Schmidt) Wiens, 89, of North Newton, Kansas passed away peacefully on the morning of October 9, 2026, surrounded by loving family.

LaWanda was born on November 20, 1936, in Hillsboro, Kansas to Adolf and Elizabeth Schmidt. She grew up on a farm in Marion County, Kansas and enjoyed helping her father and mother with the daily chores of farm life. She often mentioned working with the farm’s horses, Queen and Prince, and driving the old M&M tractor and remembered stacking bales with older sister, Betty.

Working with her mother, Elizabeth, in the kitchen, she learned to cook and bake many German Mennonite favorites including verenika, roll kuchen, grava schmaltz, cracklings and all kinds of bread. The large farm garden and orchard provided fruit and vegetables and canning was an annual summer event. Purchased items were a rarity. LaWanda remembered with fondness the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment she felt working with her family.

A two-room country school gave way to high school at Hillsboro. In algebra class, LaWanda met Emerson Wiens. They began exchanging letters and she was often a recipient of Emerson’s drawings of fish he had caught or hoped to catch.

On June 3, 1955, Lawanda and Emerson were married at the Brudertal Mennonite church. Later that same year, the young couple moved to Denver, Colorado where Emerson did his 1-W service and LaWanda worked at Mountain States Bank as a posting machine operator. Returning to Kansas in 1957, LaWanda and Emerson moved to North Newton, where Emerson attended Bethel College. Sons Mark and Kenton were born while Emerson was in college.

After Emerson graduated from Bethel, the family moved to a small house in Newton that LaWanda described as “luxurious” with a window air conditioner, floor furnace and attached garage. When daughter Renee´ was born, LaWanda decided to stay home with the children (always her wish) and supplemented the family income by providing child care for Bethel College campus children and relatives.

LaWanda and Emerson worked a variety of jobs during the following period; Emerson becoming tenured faculty at Bethel College and LaWanda working as assistant Registrar and Director of Teacher Placement.

Following the high-school graduation of the children, LaWanda and Emerson moved to Bloomington-Normal, Illinois where Emerson accepted a position at Illinois State University. LaWanda worked for the university in the Teacher Education Office, later taking a job at State Farm Insurance.

Retiring in 2000, they moved back to Newton and started building a new house (designed by son Kenton) on 10 acres of ground they purchased from Renee´ and her husband, Rich. The “Kansas Avenue” house became the center of family-life with LaWanda hosting countless visits from grandchildren.

A member of the Bethel College Mennonite Church, she enjoyed singing in the choir and lively discussions in the adult Sunday school classes. Through her faith she found rewarding opportunities to serve others; Meals on Wheels (11 years), Sunset school reading program, volunteer work for Numana (Haiti earthquake), helping with primary and general elections and stocking shelves at Et Cetera.

LaWanda enjoyed gardening, cooking and sewing. She shared her interests with her children and grandchildren; especially enjoying a group effort or shared project. One of her biggest projects and gift to her family was her frequently updated family genealogy and history book. LaWanda was most dedicated to her family, both immediate and extended. Even when working outside the home, there was always quality time for family, meals shared around the dinner table, school activities, family vacations, outings and extended family gatherings. She spent hours helping Emerson typing his dissertations and the children’s school papers. She guided her children through her love, actions and the gift of her time, which never seemed to run out.

LaWanda is survived by her husband, Emerson Wiens; her children, Mark (Helen) Kenton (Tracy) and Renee´ (Rich) Wiens-Evangelista; grandchildren, Kat, Liz, Sadie, Maddie, Gabe, Jacob, Max; great-grandchildren, Brody and Haidyn; sisters, Lola and Dorothy, brother, Bob and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; Elizabeth and Adolf Schmidt; sister, Betty and brother, Marvin.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton, Kansas. A luncheon and fellowship time will be held at the church following the service. Memorials are suggested to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), and may be left in the care of Petersen Funeral Home or Bethel College Mennonite Church.