Wanda was born to Floyd and Dorothy (Brittenham) Crawford on August 23, 1927, in Farnam, Nebraska. After the death of both her parents, she and her brother, Harold, went to live with their aunt and uncle in Maxwell, Nebraska. She graduated from Maxwell High School and went on to pursue higher education. Most of her life was spent educating elementary students. From being a classroom teacher, to an individual tutor, education was her passion. She married Lavern Rosentrater on June 7, 1950 at Maxwell. To this union two children were adopted, Merri Jo Rosentrater Halstead and Timothy Rosentrater. Lavern and Wanda lived on the family farm south of Arnold for many years. They were actively involved in their church and community. Wanda was a Sunday School teacher, choir director, and served on various committees.

Wanda will be remembered for her beautiful flower gardens, her lovely singing voice, her generosity to overseas missions, and her scrumptious wedding cakes.

Wanda is lovingly survived by her daughter, Merri Jo (Gary) Halstead of Arnold, a son Tim (Paula) Rosentrater, also of Arnold, sister-in-law Donna Crawford of Omaha, and grandchildren Jenni (Kris) Joedeman, David and James Halstead, Amanda, Nathan, and Allison Rosentrater, and great-grandchildren Layla Rivera, Ashley Schaler-Tarbutton and Collin Tarbutton, a host of other close relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, Harold Crawford, and a grandson Joseph Halstead.