Vanice Mae Bakko

Vanice "Van" Mae Bakko, 75, of Wanamingo passed away peacefully at her home on June 14, 2020, surrounded by loved ones, after a 25 month battle with stage IV endometrial cancer.

Van was born in Shawano, WI, on May 24, 1945, to Harry and Elsie (Knitt) Vandree. Though she lived in Minnesota for most of her adult life, she proudly claimed her Wisconsin roots, cheering passionately for her beloved Badgers and Packers.

Van graduated from Clintonville High School in 1963. She attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, for two years before transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work in 1968.

Van spent her career as a social worker helping people at Columbus State Hospital, Lyngblomsten Care Center, and Zumbrota Hospital among others.

Van married Dan Behnke in 1966, and they lived in Columbus, OH, and in Wanamingo, St. Paul and Rushford, MN. They had two children, Bret and Michele, and were later divorced.

In 1983, Van married Gary Bakko and moved back to Wanamingo. Shortly thereafter, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and valiantly fought that disease for the rest of her life. Her Knitt-Vandree stubbornness served her well fighting MS as she refused to let it compromise the quality of her life. Van and Gary traveled widely and in retirement with their Scamp RV, which opened up endless possibilities for their American adventures.

Van was a social butterfly, famous for making new friends in any situation. She loved to talk on the phone with friends and laugh heartily, and she kept in touch with friends from grade school, high school, and college as well as community and church groups. With two special circles of friends, Van attended yearly informal reunions, which recently became monthly "Zoom-unions" due to COVID-19. She was well loved by her coworkers at the Zumbrota Hospital, her Wanamingo neighbors, members of Trinity and Wanamingo Lutheran congregations, K-W elementary students she volunteered to help with reading, and the ladies in her "Red Hatters" group. She found many new friends with hospice team members who tended her at home for the last eight months of her life.

To Van, family was everything. She loved all types of family gatherings, especially the ones at holidays. She could be found enjoying the annual Wanamingo 4th of July parade, followed at home later with food, fun and sparklers. At Christmas, she cherished making lefse and krumkake with Gary, and playing bingo with the family. And perhaps her most favorite of all was Easter, as she loved to hide Easter baskets for her grandchildren and watch them scurry around the backyard during the Easter Egg hunt. We have been blessed by many amazing memories, and even though Van will be greatly missed by all, her spirit will carry on.

Cherishing her memory are her husband Gary, son Bret (Jen), daughter Michele (Chris), step-children Twila (John), Karla, Mark, and Tonya (Mike), grandchildren Josh, Sophie, Ryan, Bennett, Angela, Andrea, Ann, Lindsey, Robert, Zach, Sam, Tucker, Ava and Max, and great-grandchildren Nate, Nick, Natalee and Abigail.

A private funeral for immediate family will take place on June 20 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wanamingo, followed with a private inurnment service at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.

Our family wishes to thank the Mayo Clinic hospice staff and the Home Instead Senior Care staff for their incredible care of Van during these past 3 months.

In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church. Online condolences are welcome and may be written at mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.