Wanda D. Rickman

Wanda Dean (Casey) Rickman, 91 was born on April 14th, 1930 in Poplar Bluff, MO and left this earth on January 7th, 2022 at 9:05 a.m. when she immediately laid eyes on her precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Wanda resided in Poplar Bluff, Missouri in a home she shared with her husband and son for many years that she called “the farm.”

Wanda was the second oldest of 6 children born to Jesse and Gladys Casey. She and her 5 siblings grew up in Hendrickson until she met her husband, Charles Rickman Sr. and married him on October 26th, 1952.

In October 1953, she had her first and only child, a son that she named Charles Rickman Jr, but most of the time called Sonny. Her love for him and her family simply could not be matched.

Wanda also loved children. She devoted 42 years of her life to teaching. She taught many grades, but the way her face would light up when she talked about teaching her first graders to read, led us to believe that first was definitely number one in her eyes.

After retiring from the Poplar Bluff School District, her time was spent at the farm with her husband and grandchildren. She loved to garden, embroidery, read a good book, and cook for the ones that she loved. Her grandchildren spent many days with her taking pictures in front of her rose bushes, gathering vegetables from the garden, and picking pecans from under her pecan tree. When she wasn’t at the farm, you could find her shopping, getting her hair and nails done, or at church.

Wanda loved her church and the people in it. She was an excellent quilter and she met weekly for many years after retirement to quilt with the ladies that attended South Poplar Bluff. She called all of the ladies her friends and spending time quilting with them was something she cherished.

Wanda was always smiling. She was always doing “just fine,” and she never wanted anyone to worry about her. Her concern was everyone else. She would do absolutely anything for anyone. She lived the way Jesus wanted her to, she loved others and tried her best to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Wanda was welcomed into heaven by her husband Charles Rickman Sr.; her parents, Jesse and Gladys Casey; her siblings Wilma Mayfield, Thomas (Tommy) Casey, Dewayne Casey, and Darlene Fortner. She is survived by her sister, Margaret Mitchell.

Her legacy will be carried on throughout her son, Charles Rickman Jr. “Sonny” and his wife, Sandy; Her grandson, Christopher Rickman, his wife Ashley and daughter Paelyn; her granddaughter, Beth Crunk, her husband Mike and their three boys Logan, Chandler, and Nash; and her granddaughter Natalea Hovis, her husband Jeff, and their two children Jillian and Lane.

Visitation will be held from 12-2pm on Tuesday, January 11th at Willow Ridge with Pastor Rick White officiating. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. with burial at the City Cemetery in Poplar Bluff.