Wanda Louise Gumprecht Redmond

Born to Otto Vernon Gumprecht and Louise Hauke Gumprecht on January 16, 1929 in Shelton, Nebraska and died a peaceful death on September 17, 2016 in Routt County Colorado.

Wanda was the oldest of 4 children. She lived in Shelton Nebraska until 1940 when her parents moved the family to property near Toponas, Colorado. She graduated at the top of her class from Yampa High School in 1946 at age 17. The next Fall Wanda rode the train alone to Fort Collins, Colorado to attend Colorado A&M. She graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Dietetics in 1950. She did a dietetic internship at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York shortly after and then became a registered dietitian. Her first post-college job was as a Home and 4-H county extension agent in Elbert County, Colorado. Wanda then moved to Colusa County, California after 2 Years and worked as a Home and 4-H advisor extension agent there for 10 years.

Wanda was an IFYE (International Farm Youth Exchange) participant to Japan in 1956. She traveled for four months throughout Japan representing agriculture, western ways and kindness to the war ravaged skeptical Japanese. She developed many life-long Japanese friends and developed a simple-elegant style which she carried throughout her life.

Wanda took a year sabbatical from Colusa County in 1960, as she was chosen as a National 4-H Fellow and spent a year in Washington, DC. While there Wanda acquired a MS in Extension Education from the University of Maryland. This experience gave her a chance to see a much larger world and enhanced her professional abilities. On January 20, 1961 while in Washington DC she attended the inauguration of John F. Kennedy.

As a very young person Wanda participated in the Spinach and Lettuce industry in the Toponas area. Born into a hard working family, her father would leave her at a young age to drive the families F-20 Farmall breaking out sagebrush to be planted while her father worked in the fields. During breaks from college, Wanda worked in the office of Jack Holden's produce company and often spoke of how the teletype machine rattled out orders from many of the large US cities for the premium quality produce produced in South Routt. During the WWII shortage of male field hands, Wanda worked in the South Routt hay fields operating horse drawn "dump rakes" and other equipment. She was paid a man's wage for field work which was unheard of at the time. This experience defined early for Wanda that a woman could do anything a man could and this fact was carried throughout her life despite ridicule from men and women alike.

On a trip home to Toponas from her job in Colusa, she met James "Jack" Redmond and they were eventually married on February 14, 1962 in Yampa, Colorado. Wanda brought her homemaking and extension skills to the Redmond home ranch where she and Jack raised three children (Jim, John and Julie). Wanda worked as a dietitian in many Northwest Colorado hospitals and nursing homes while raising her children.

Animals were a huge part of Wanda's life from an early age as she began milking cows at age five and rode vast miles on horseback until she was 86. Her love of animals was never to be quelled and she eventually changed her career pursuits to that of a full time rancher.

Wanda developed a prize winning Rambouillet and Suffolk sheep flock. She sold sheep throughout Colorado and Wyoming and was known by many as being an expert in the sheep industry. She was sought out by many when local veterinarians did not have the experience or knowledge to help someone with a sick sheep.

She had a great love of 4-H. She served nearly 20 years as a judge and 4-H leader for Northwest Colorado's 4-H program. Her 4-H fellowship and volunteer work in 4-H forever changed Wanda and as recent as this past August gave a presentation in Steamboat Springs on the history and impact of 4-H in her life. She was most proud of her three children, as they achieved the highest honor in 4-H as state 4-H winners and were awarded trips to National 4-H congress.

She served on various boards including Routt County Community Ag Alliance, Historic Routt County, Yampa Valley Electric Caring Consumers and Yampa Valley Community Foundation. She was a 2005 recipient of the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp's Hazie Werner Award for excellence for her commitment to the community through key leadership roles.

Later in life she re-kindled her passion for entertaining and playing bridge. She played with the Grand Slammers bridge group of Yampa and a Phippsburg ladies group. The stimulating bridge games and conversation were a highlight for her each month.

She was a testament to the fact that a small town girl can achieve great things and does have the ability to change her world. Her mantra was keep reading, keep learning, eat right, stay fit, help others, and work hard!

Memorial financial donations can be made to: Routt County 4-H leadership fund (Routt County Extension Office P.O. Box 772830 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477), Yampa Ambulance (PO Box 237 Yampa, CO 80483) , or Community Ag Alliance (Box 774134 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477). Memorial volunteering to any program that will improve the life, health or opportunity of a child.

Survivors include, siblings Janice (Don)Moar of Portland, Oregon, Katherine (Harold)Ferguson of Walnut Creek, California and Otto "Bud" Gumprecht of Overton, Nevada. Children: Jim (Sherri) Redmond of Boise, Idaho; John (Sara) Redmond of Yampa, CO, Julie (Dan) Drake of Meeker, CO, grandkids, Olivia, Jace, Garrett, Grant, Ethan and Drew and the wonderful people of South Routt County