Wandel Dee Strange age 82 of Munfordville departed this life on Wednesday evening, July 19, 2023. On March 18, 1941, Wandel was welcomed into this life by his parents Elvin and Thelma Logsdon Strange. He grew up in an area of Edmonson County that at that time was called the Forks of Nolin and Green River. Wandel attended first through eighth grade at Lincoln Elementary in Edmonson County and on the first Tuesday after Labor Day in 1955, he enrolled in Cub Run High School in Hart County. That’s the day he met the love of his life, Rita Jaggers. He graduated from Cub Run and, in the summer of 1959, enrolled in Western Kentucky University.
On March 18, 1961, Wandel and Rita were married. Wandel graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor’s degree. Before graduating, he spent two years teaching physical education at Lincoln Elementary School. After graduating with a B.S., he served two years as principal while concurrently completing his Master’s degree. In 1965, he became principal of Cub Run High School and in 1967 he was awarded Rank I. In 1969, he left Cub Run to become superintendent of The Williamstown Independent School District in Williamstown, Kentucky. When hired he was the youngest Superintendent in the state of KY at 27 years old. The most memorable event in his life occurred on February 3, 1973 when his only son Kendrick Clayton Strange was born. Kendrick currently resides in Bowling Green and is a teacher in the Warren County School System. He returned to the Hart County School System in 1981 where he served as superintendent until his retirement in 1992. He was recognized with the Dupree Award which is given annually by the Kentucky School Board Association to the Superintendent of The Year.
Throughout his career, he was a mentor to many future administrators, a number who later became superintendents, began their careers under Wandel. After retiring, he and Rita opened and operated an antique store in Cave City, KY. He became an active part of the Cave City Community, working to help others through the local chamber and tourism commission. He was named volunteer of the year in 2019 and has been named citizen of the year. Wandel is survived by his son Kendrick Clayton Strange of Bowling Green, his brother Sam Strange and his wife Edna Mae, his sister Gail Kelley and her husband Joe, Wandel’s brother-in-law Rondell Clayton Jaggers and his wife Leslie Jaggers of Savannah, GA and ….several cousins and a host of friends also survive.
Funeral services for Wandel Dee Strange will be 1:00pm, July 28th in the chapel of Sego Funeral Home with Bro. Tommy Adams officiating. Burial will be in the Stockholm Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday from 10am-8pm and after 8 AM Friday at the Sego Funeral Home. In memory of Wandel, the family request that memorial contributions be given to the Stockholm Baptist Church, these donations may be left at the funeral home.
