[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 8, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E15]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE WONDERFUL LIFE OF MRS. CLELA VIRGINIA WANAMAKER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DEBBIE LESKO

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 8, 2019

  Mrs. LESKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the 
wonderful life of Mrs. Clela Virginia Wanamaker. At 97 years old, Clela 
passed away peacefully at her home in Sun City West, Arizona on 
December 9, 2018, with her husband of 72 years by her side. Clela was 
born on January 9, 1921, in Iowa. Clela had a long and distinguished 
career as a registered nurse. She worked at Holy Family Hospital in 
Estherville, Iowa, before she and her husband moved to Wayzata, 
Minnesota in 1949. There, she worked as an industrial nurse for 27 
years at Honeywell and retired in 1979. She married Bohn E. Wanamaker, 
her ``Mr. Wonderful'', on October 17, 1946, in Estherville, Iowa. They 
lived most of their married life in Wayzata, Minnesota, retiring in Sun 
City West, Arizona in 1980.
  Clela was an accomplished archery champion. Her husband, Bohn, was 
her coach and was one of four qualified archery coaches in Minnesota in 
1966. Her first award came in 1966 when she finished 10th in the 82nd 
National Archery Tournament where she zeroed in 492 arrows and was the 
first to record a ``Six Gold'' by shooting six arrows in succession 
into the gold center of the target at 40 yards. Remarkably, Clela 
accomplished that feat after beginning serious practice less than a 
year earlier. Almost as incredible was that she was 45 years old at the 
time. The following year she added two silver and two bronze medals in 
the nationals. In 1969, she qualified for the world championships. 
Also, in 1969, she won the first of seven Minnesota state 
championships. In 1971, Clela was the first woman in the United States 
to shoot 1,200 scores back-to-back. Only three other women at that time 
had ever shot a 1,200 in the United States. Clela later became involved 
in pistol shooting and won many awards in that sport as well.
  Clela was also an active member of the community. More than 30 years 
ago, Clela made a decision to do something about obesity in the Sun 
City West community and started a diet group, Win and Lose. Clela was 
nominated for the ``Salute to Senior Service Contest'' for recognition 
of her 31 years of volunteer services, helping hundreds of men and 
women lose their excess weight and get healthy. As a result of this 
contest, in early summer of 2013 she was named Arizona Outstanding 
Senior Volunteer. She continued this club until about six months ago. 
She was also an active member of Arrowhead Republican Women.
  Clela was a valuable member of her community and she will be greatly 
missed by her family, friends, and the Sun City West community. On 
behalf of Arizona's Eighth Congressional District, I extend my deepest 
condolences to Clela's husband, Bohn Wanamaker, their family, and their 
friends who mourn this loss.

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