Ila M. Wuerdeman

Ila Wuerdeman, 92, passed away March 12, 2025, at Pioneer Ridge Assisted Living in Lawrence, Kansas, where she was a resident since 2022.  Before moving to Lawrence, she was a long-time resident of Independence, Kansas. A celebration of life will take place at the Warren-McElwain Mortuary in July.

Ila Maudene Spencer was born on October 31, 1932, in Deer Creek, Oklahoma to Ila “Lee” Spencer and Maude (Loomis) Spencer.  Her parents and all six siblings preceded her in death.  

When Ila was young, her family moved about Kansas and Oklahoma while her father worked in highway construction, finally settling in Independence while she attended grade school.  She attended Riley Elementary School and graduated from Independence High School in 1950.  After graduation, she started working for Sinclair Oil Company in Independence until the birth of her third child.  After that, she worked for Gilmore, Dennis and Miller Insurance (later Newkirk, Dennis and Buckles) for more than 30 years until her retirement in 1995.  She was active in Zion Lutheran Church in Independence.  She loved to bake, sew, and quilt, and incorporated her hobbies into her dedicated service to various church organizations, such as preparing meals for congregants and making quilts to send abroad for mission work.  She later attended Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lawrence. 

On June 4, 1952, she married Lee Wuerdeman of Independence in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  They lived briefly in Fayetteville, North Carolina during his military service, and relocated to Independence permanently in 1953.  Lee preceded Ila in death in 2017.

She is survived by four children, Michael (Suzy) of Ft. Myers, Florida; Linda Carr (Kevin) of Lawrence, Kansas; Robert (Becky) of Joplin, Missouri; and Curtis (Scott Mungo) of Cuenca, Ecuador.  They are also survived by six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Pioneer Ridge, for their loving care the past three years, and the staff of Ascend Hospice who provided much comfort and support to Ila and the family in her final months of life.

The family suggests memorials in Ila’s name be made to the Education Fund at Pioneer Ridge Assisted Living, 4851 Harvard Rd, Lawrence, KS 66049, or also may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13^th St., Lawrence, KS 66044.