COLUMBUS
Wanda Ilene Sterling-Kain-Graham, 94 years old passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus at 6:50 a.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility in Columbus, IN surrounded by her family. She was born on June 4, 1927 to Elmer and Elsie Cole-Sterling of Brownstown, IN where she grew up. Her family owned a furniture store in Brownstown and at an early age, her chores were to dust the furniture in the store which she was not fond of, and helped care for the horses. She graduated from Brownstown High School in 1944.
On December 15, 1946 she and Otto H. Kain, Jr. were married after he returned from serving in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific. He preceded her in death on February 12, 1969, at the tender age of 42 years old. They had three children: daughters: Kathy (Rex) Breeden of Columbus, Beckie (Terry) Weddle of Center Grove and a son: Jon Kain (Libby Forbes) of Columbus. A highlight of her life was spending time with grandchildren and great grandchildren: Derek (Dana) Carr of Sanford Florida, (Cody Carr & Kirsten Carr), Natalie Carr-Mattern of New Palestine Indiana, (Amanda Moore, Tyler Disman, Emily Miller, (Zach) (Sawyer Wanda’s first great-great-grandchild), Ryan Tidd (Jennifer) of Elizabethtown (Carter Tidd and Emma Tidd), David Tidd of Greenwood (Marshall Tidd, Maddox Tidd and Major Tidd) Jennifer (Tom) Rager of Columbus (Lyla Rager, Blake Rager & Adycin Rager), Jason (Emily) Kain of Columbus (Caroline Kain, Charlotte Kain & Otto Kain).
Wanda and Otto owned Kain’s poultry business in Seymour until relocating their family to Columbus in 1963 when they were both employed by Cummins Engine Company. She was an executive secretary for 25 years with Cummins in the International and Personnel department -a job she was always proud of and cherished her time there.
In August, 1973 she married Stewart (Stoo) P. Graham who preceded her in death in 2003. He was the father of John Graham and Stephanie Koecher.
After “Stoo” sold the business; Central Sheet Metal, they retired and moved to Cape Coral, Florida where they enjoyed life to the fullest while boating, fishing, golfing and lots of party time. They belonged to the Royal Tee Golf Club where she spent many hours on the greens. If not on the greens or fishing, you would find her tucked away reading a book or tending to her tomato plants.
She was quite the angler and was very proud of the fact while she and Otto were living on Terrace Lake in Columbus she caught two large bass on one fishing lure – and the proof of her catch was featured in The Republic newspaper in 1967.
She and Stoo loved the sea and took cruises at every opportunity on the Royal Caribbean, was a past member of the Harrison Lake Country Club in Columbus, Royal Tee Club in Cape Coral, member of First Baptist Church in Columbus and Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral, FL, and member of the Beta Kappa Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority.
Wanda was a Christian and felt grateful that God blessed her with wonderful health for 94 years and with a loving, caring family. All her friends were a blessing to her and an important part of her life.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, brothers: Wayne Sterling and William Sterling, sister: Velma Carmichael. She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
She was quite a disciplinarian for her children and left them with the legacy of honesty, Christian values, love of community, and country.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 3, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home officiated by Milo Smith, with visitation from 9:00 a.m. until time of service. She will be laid to rest at Garland Brook Mausoleum in Columbus. Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home (3855 25h Street-Columbus, IN 47203) has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
The family requests donations in Wanda’s memory be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana (2626 – 17h Street 47201)
You are invited to view her video tribute, light a virtual candle of remembrance and send a message of condolence to the Graham family via the funeral home website: www.jewellrittman.com
