Wanda Lee Freeman Salek, beloved matriarch of the family, age 89, passed peacefully under the Lord's Prayer on Thursday, April 4, 2019 in her home surrounded by family. She was born October 31, 1929 in Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana to Hal Way Freeman and Elva Kathleen Freeman. As a daughter in a military family, Wanda moved several times during her childhood until ultimately coming to Idaho, where she spent the rest of her life. She had four dear siblings, two of which she lost too early - Hal Freeman, Jr. and Camilla Holste - and two with whom she remained extremely close, Bonnie Freeman Hall and William Frank Freeman, spending special time with them days before her passing. She met her future husband - Rudolph Joseph Salek - in Boise and they were married on March 6, 1950. They became parents soon after, and Wanda was a loving stay-at-home mom, raising their daughter Valerie (Bowyer) and son Greg Salek. For 40 years, the family owned and operated a well-known local grocery store, the Lone Star Market, which became the center of many milestones. Wanda was tragically widowed in 1981, but remained a steadfast mother, store owner, and eventual grandmother of five: Nastassia, Styles, Blake, Becky, and Gregg; and great-grandmother of six. She was fully devoted to her family, a constant anchor to her immediate and extended loved ones, hosting many Christmas Eves centered around a famously tall tree. Wanda was persistently clever and curious, traveling to multiple countries, including Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Egypt, Mexico, and Canada. Her daughter was one of her favorite travel companions, taking many trips together in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. She considered her experiences traveling great sources of joy and credited them for her extensive knowledge. She was exceptionally well-read, so much so that her family's solution to being stumped was to "call Mother." While she was excellent with numbers and words as a bookkeeper and Scrabble maven, she was also a skilled artist. Her signature talents were oil and watercolor painting, which resulted in many beautiful pieces that hang on her family's walls today. Upon her move to Boise in 2005, she developed many new friendships and enjoyed regular cocktail parties with her neighbors. Even when her body slowed down her mind never wavered, and she continued to "work" the daily crossword puzzle every morning until her final weeks. Her family will miss her deeply and strive to honor her memory and impact throughout their lifetimes. Wanda is survived by beloved siblings, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces many of whom she was like a second mother. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N Midland Blvd in Nampa (208-467-7300) with a burial to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 15862 Indiana Ave in Caldwell. Wanda's family will greet friends for a celebration of life from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Ste. Chapelle Winery, 19348 Lowell Rd, Caldwell, ID. Memorials may be made in Wanda's name to The Idaho Foodbank or Salvation Army Boise Corps. Condolences may be expressed at ZeyerFuneralChapel.com.
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