Wanda Lee Taylor Burke Haag

Wanda Lee Taylor Burke Haag was born on August 7, 1930 and left this world on April 14, 2020 in Knoxville, TN. Four words best describe the vibrant life that Wanda lived: Courage, Faith, Compassion, and Caring. Wanda was born in Miami, Florida, to Lee and Myrtle Sykes. Upon graduation from Miami High School, Wanda attended Mars-Hill College where she worked toward a degree in Divinity. She returned to Miami to marry Gilbert Burke. Throughout her life, Wanda excelled at courageously turning tragedy into joy. When her husband, Gilbert, was diagnosed with cancer only a few months after they were married, Wanda cared for him with deep love, until he passed away. As a young widow, Wanda courageously found her way to Abilene, TX to continue her studies. However, very soon she was called to bravely face tragedy again when her father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and she returned to Miami to assist in his care until his death. Yet rather than allowing deep sadness to overtake her, Wanda decided that these opportunities to care for those she loved during their final illnesses showed her that she was a compassionate and caring nurse. She returned to Abilene, TX to begin her nursing studies and obtained her degree in Nursing from Harden-Simmons (and later also received her Master’s Degree in Nursing). While in Abilene, Wanda met John Haag, to whom she was married for over 50 years, and they have three children, Cecelia, Laura, and Lee. They traveled the world with John’s Air Force career. With each move, it was Wanda who made the new house a home. Wanda located the house, enrolled the children in school, found a nursing job for herself, and found a church home for the family. In each new location, John and Wanda quickly made new, lifelong friends. After John retired, it was Wanda’s turn to follow her career dreams. She took a job as the Director of Nursing at Golden Plains Community in Borger, Texas, from 1975 to 1980. John and Wanda then moved to Midwest City where she was the Director of Nursing Services at Midwest City Hospital from 1980 until she retired. In 2000, John and Wanda moved to Knoxville, TN. They again made deep, loving relationships with friends from Central Baptist Church of Bearden, the YMCA Swim Group, and volunteer groups. Shortly after John’s death in 2012, Wanda moved to Atria Weston where she again made deep and loving friendships with other residents and with the staff who cared for her with so much love. John and Wanda instilled in their children a deep faith in God, and they both saw that faith as their most valuable gift to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Wanda also instilled in her family a sense of humor and compassion. Wanda had a unique gift in showing how much she cared, and people were drawn to tell her their deepest needs. Her caring and compassion showed through each day as she listened and prayed for those who were caring for her at Atria. Wanda is survived by children, Cecelia and Frank Morris (Knoxville), Laura McConnell-Corbyn and George Corbyn (Oklahoma City), and Lee and Trudy Haag (Forest, VA). She is survived by six grandchildren, Zach (Lindsay) Morris, Taylor (Sterling) Mullen, Danielle (Jacob) Pasby, Ryleigh McConnell, Heather Haag and Brad Haag, and four great-grandchildren, John Shaffer, Hunter, and Sutton Pasby, and Charlotte Morris. The family wishes to thank the staff of Atria Weston for their loving, patient, and compassionate care of Wanda. Memorial gifts honoring her life may be made to the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, PO Box 8190, Lakeland, FL 33802. A private graveside service for the family will be held at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, Gov. John Sevier Hwy. Online condolences may be extended at www.rosemortuary.com

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Wanda Lee Taylor Burke Haag

August 7, 1930 - April 14, 2020