Wanda Koupal

Wanda Kate Koupal, 80, of Cedar Falls, formerly of Reinbeck, died peacefully to natural causes on February 24, 2020, at New Aldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 29, at 11 AM, at French-Hand Chapel in Reinbeck with Pastor Steve Hubbell officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service starting at 9 AM. Interment will be held at Reinbeck City Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family to be donated to a cause in memory of Wanda at a later date. Abels Funeral and Cremation Service, French-Hand Chapel is caring for Wanda and her family.

Wanda Kate Koupal was born on January 3, 1940, to her parents Charlie “Clarence” and Luna (Russell) Cornett in Grayson County, Virginia. She attended grade school at Flat Ridge, later attending Independence High School, graduating with the class of 1958. Upon graduation, she worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, performing office work. She received a personal letter of recommendation from J. Edgar Hoover, of which she was very proud of. It was during her tenure there, that she met the love of her life, Sylvan Freddie Koupal, while on a riverboat cruise of the Potomac River. Wanda and Sylvan would go on to be married a year later, on January 11, 1962, in Elkton, Maryland. After their marriage, they moved to Reinbeck, where Wanda was a stay at home mother and homemaker. They welcomed their son Stephen into their family on January 28, 1963, who was named after his grandfather, Stephen Russell. Wanda and Sylvan would briefly move to Virginia between 1971-1973, eventually moving back to Iowa and settled in Cedar Falls.

Wanda was an avid reader, spending her time lost in a good book. Both Wanda and Sylvan were infatuated with the city of Washington D.C. from their time residing there, always keeping up on current political affairs and comings and goings. Above all else, Wanda loved being a mother and grandmother, spending her time with her Son, daughter-in-law Karen, and granddaughter Jessica. She enjoyed the time she could spend with Jessica, especially when it involved shopping and frequenting some of her favorite stores like Younkers or Von Maur. She was known for her uncompromising values, and keeping her home and flower garden tidy, alongside always be presentable herself. Wanda was incredibly proud of her birthplace, and heritage in Virginia. She was a past member of the Reinbeck Methodist Church and First Methodist Church in Cedar Falls.

Wanda is survived by her loving daughter-in-law: Karen Koupal of Waverly; granddaughter Jessica (Zachary) Pfantz of Denver and sister Glenna Russell of Trout Dale, VA. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, infant sister Nina Lee, and brother-in-law Stuart.