Wanda V. Hitzeroth

September 26, 1928 - October 27, 2021

After traveling around the world, exploring six continents and more than 100 countries, Wanda Hitzeroth, 93, embarked on her long-awaited journey to heaven on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 27, 2021. The youngest child of Rudolf and Rosa (nee Hraça) Vogel, Wanda was born Sept. 26, 1928, in Wheaton, Illinois. A graduate of Wheaton High School, she attended Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago where she became a Registered Nurse. On Sept. 23, 1950, she traveled to Ft. Sumter, South Carolina to marry Richard Q. (Dick) Hitzeroth, of Wayne, Illinois, prior to his deployment to Japan. Wanda and Dick shared a passion for travel and made a commitment to see the world together. While living in Wayne after their marriage, Wanda worked as a nurse at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. Then in 1956, Wanda and Dick moved to Burlington, Illinois, and Dick, along with his brothers, designed and built the beautiful red brick home on Plank Road where they raised their three children, Rita, Janet and Martin. Wanda worked at Sycamore Hospital for several years before becoming the school nurse for Burlington-Central School District 301, a job she held until she retired. Throughout their 71-year marriage, Wanda and Dick traveled through all 50 states, Mexico, and Canada, stopping to see every historical marker and eating Dairy Queen dilly bars or pineapple milkshakes for lunch most days. They rode on planes, trains, ships, ferries, rickshaws, and more to faraway places including all the major world capitals, the pyramids at Giza, the Great Wall of China, the Galapagos Islands, the Holy Lands, Australia, India, and beyond. They recorded their adventures through photographs, on slide shows, and later, on video camera, sometimes forgetting to hit the “stop” button and capturing candid and hilarious moments probably never intended to be seen. They sailed through the Panama Canal five times. In addition to her beloved husband and traveling partner, Wanda leaves behind two loving daughters, Rita (Robert) Carey, of Lake Forest, CA, Janet (Thomas) Miller, of Trabuco Canyon, CA; and one beloved son, Martin, of Burlington. She was a devoted and loving grandmother to Kyle (Kristin) Miller, Erik Seastrom, Erin (Anthony) Jones, Alexis Hitzeroth, Kelsey Hitzeroth (Dru Olson), and Gary Seastrom. She always enjoyed seeing her great grandchildren, whether in person or on FaceTime: Riley Gifford, Jorie, and Zoey Miller, Isla and baby girl Jones, and Ruby Hitzeroth. She was a loving aunt to a multitude of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. In addition to her parents, Wanda was preceded in death by her sister Harriet; and three brothers, Rudy, Ray, and Richard. Visitation will be held from 2 to 3 p.m., followed by a memorial celebration at 3 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Burlington United Methodist Church, 195 E. Center St., Burlington. To view the service, click on the photos and videos and then select the celebration of life file. Gifts of flowers or donations to the church are welcome and appreciated.