Wanda Hornbacher

Wanda Fay Hornbacher, 83, of North Platte, Nebraska, passed away on August 2, 2026.

Wanda was born on November 3, 1942, in Denver, Colorado, to Juanita Elizabeth Hillman and Allen Fay Bitterman. She attended North Platte Senior High School and continued her education at Kearney State College. Wanda devoted her career to education, teaching at both the elementary and college levels.

In 1974, Wanda married James Hornbacher in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Wanda is survived by her daughter, Vanessa (Patrick) Kennedy of Iowa; her sons, Michael (Sherry) Hornbacher of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Craig Hornbacher of Iowa; her brothers, Dennis (Donna) Bitterman of Missouri, Kevin (Shemal) Bitterman of Missouri, and Shane Bitterman of Kearney, Nebraska; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, James Paul Baker; her second husband, James Hornbacher; her mother, Juanita; her half-sister, Audry; her son, Jimmy Baker; and her grandson, Jesse Hornbacher.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Seventh-day Adventist church 815 West Francis Street in North Platte.

Wanda loved trees, and memorials are suggested to a fund established for the planting of a memorial tree in a North Platte park in her memory.

Odean Colonial Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.