Stephanie “Skip” Waddell
A Mass of Christian Burial for Stephanie Waddell will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Interment will be at St. Margarets Cemetery. A visitation will be on Monday, March 23rd from 5:00-6:30 PM at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.
Stephanie “Skip” Waddell, age 73, of Spirit Lake passed away on March 11, 2026. Skip was born on March 8, 1953, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Matthew and Jacqualyn Lingreen. She graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School and later attended Iowa Central Community College.
In September of 1972, she was united in marriage to Rick Waddell. Together they owned and operated Waddell Sheet Metal, where Skip worked as the office manager. Throughout her life, she lived in Fort Dodge before moving to Denver, Colorado, and later settled in Spirit Lake, where she and Rick were blessed with two children Kristin and Eric.
Skip was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Her greatest joy in life was her four grandchildren, whom she adored beyond measure. She was a constant and nurturing presence in their lives, rarely missing a sporting event or activity.
She enjoyed fishing off the family’s dock and spending time boating with family and neighbors. Skip also loved her dogs and treasured the simple moments spent with those she loved most. She had a selfless dedication to her family and always had a beautiful smile on her face when she was with them.
Skip especially enjoyed baking her famous frosted sugar cookies with her family at Christmas, a tradition everyone looked forward to each year. She also enjoyed sewing and gardening, with her rhubarb being her pride and joy. She loved baking all kinds of rhubarb treats, and if someone claimed they didn’t like rhubarb, Skip would happily try to persuade them to give her desserts a chance–confident they would change their mind after just one bite.
She leaves behind a family who loves her dearly and will miss her every day. Skip was a strong believer in her faith and shared that faith with those around her.
Those to left to cherish her memory include her husband, Rick Waddell; daughter, Kristin Waddell and her children, Carson and Brody Waddell; son, Eric (Stacy) Waddell and their children, Deacon and Grayson Waddell; brother, Steve (Doris) Lingreen; brother, Dave (Ley) Lingreen; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Matthew and Jacqualyn Lingreen.
Turner Jenness Funeral in Spirit Lake is in charge of arrangements.