Wanda Sturm

Wanda Sturm passed from this earth on August 7, 2020 at the age of 89. She was undoubtedly met in heaven and gathered into the arms of her Heavenly Father and the love of her life, Jess R. Sturm, Jr. Wanda Lee Johns was born on October 22, 1930 in Bristow, OK to Fred Sr. and Ellen (Higgenbotham) Johns. She was the youngest of Fred and Ellen’s 10 surviving children. They lived on a farm outside of town, where she attended Creek County elementary school. She graduated from Bristow High School in May, 1948. Mom met her future husband, WWII U.S. Army veteran, Jess Sturm, while working at a Bristow café in 1947. Although he was 10 years her senior, it made no difference. They had each found their lifetime soul mate. They were married on February 7, 1948, but only after Ellen made Dad promise that Wanda would finish high school before he would move her away from home. The promise was kept and Mr. and Mrs. Jess and Wanda Sturm, moved to Tulsa, after graduation. In 1950, they bought their first home at 4732 E. Jasper in Tulsa. Around 1952, Dad and Mom moved to Broken Arrow and went into the bakery business with Dad’s brother and wife, Lee Morell (Mose) and Elizabeth (Liz) Sturm. The Broken Arrow Pastry Shop was a family affair and Mom worked the long hours with everyone else for 28 years. After the bakery was sold, Mom worked at Arkansas Valley Bank in Broken Arrow, for over 17 years until retirement. During the time of the bakery and bank, she found the time to run an upholstery business for over 30 years, out of a shop building Dad had put up in the backyard. She was also a charter member of the Broken Arrow, VFW. In 2007, Mom and Dad sold their long–time home and moved to a retirement apartment community, Vandever House, in Broken Arrow. Her “Precious” love, Jess died in May 2009. Mom continued an active life with the “girls” at Vandever House and with continual get togethers with children and grandchildren. Throughout her life, Mom’s Christian faith never wavered. She was raised in Bristow attending the Freewill Baptist Church and after moving to Broken Arrow, joined and faithfully attended the first Church of the Nazarene the rest of her life. God gave her an exceptional singing voice, which she shared for many years with the choir. Her church family was very important to her, making life-long and treasured friendships along the way. Mom has blessed many in her life and especially our family. Her family legacy is: Children, Reeda Markwood and Jesse R. Sturm III (Cleta) Grandchildren, Jennifer Langley (Mike), Mike Adney, Grant Adney, Sarah Westcott, (Mike), Bonnie Adney, Samantha Radtke (Kyle), Jesse R. Sturm IV (Wendy) Great-grandchildren, Dylan Woods (Brittany), Colton Woods, Dalton Woods, Alissa Westcott, Logan Westcott, Konner Adney, Ace Williams, Bentley Conner, Carson Conner, Adalynne Conner, Eljin Sturm, Doyle Sturm, Edwin Sturm Great-great-grandchild, Jaxson Woods Wanda was preceded in death by brothers, Albert, James, Fred Jr., Paul, Bill Johns and sisters Carrie Johns, Hazel Arrington, Lola Dushane, Thelma Brown

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Wanda Sturm

October 22, 1930 - August 7, 2020