Obituary: Zander

Verna Marie Zander was born in Buffalo County, Wisconsin 96 years ago. Verna passed peacefully at home of natural causes on April 24, 2016.Obituary: ZanderWhen she described her early life on the farm her stories invariably included tales of the mischief she and her friend Almeda got into. She attended a one room school, starting 1st grade at five and graduating 8th grade when she was only twelve. High school and then college, entering Ripon college in 1936 at 17. She started as a language and music major but soon switched to biology and received her bachelor’s degree in 1940.She kept this love of science alive attending the University of Colorado and receiving her master’s in Zoology in 1942.While studying for a doctorate she was offered a position teaching at Colorado A&M where she met Donald Zander, a student in one of her classes.They were married in August 1945. She accompanied him to Germany as part of the Army of Occupation and on returning they eventually settled in the Woodinville area to raise their family.Verna was a lifelong Methodist and she was always active in her church, from running a Vacation Bible School at 13, with her friend Almeda, right on through active involvement in the Bothell United Methodist Church “Doll Project” at 93.She was active in the broader community as well: leading Girl Scouts and Den Mother for Boy Scouts, participating in the P.T.A., and later collaborating in the writing of a book about the history of the Lake Leota area near Woodinville.An avid birdwatcher, her favorite bird was the Golden Eagle and while a student in Colorado she raised one from an egg found in a nest. The college studies of that bird provided new information on the species’ food needs and habits.This love of birds often gave her children easy inspiration for birthday or Christmas gifts in the form of bird books or kitchen towels. Verna was preceded in death by her husband Donald and brother Curtis.She is survived by her children Linda, David and Arnold; and grandchildren Erin, Nate, Justin, Rebecca and Donald.A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 21st, at Bothell United Methodist Church, 18515 92nd Ave NE, Bothell, Washington 98011.In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to “The Doll Project” at the Bothell United Methodist Church or the Nature Conservancy.