1926
Wilmer
2016
Wilmer Wedel
September 13, 1926 — December 8, 2016
Wilmer Wedel, 90, died December 8, 2016 at Newton Medical Center.
He was born in Halstead, KS, on September 13, 1926, the seventh of ten children of Herman and Christina Voran Wedel. The family lived in rural Moundridge on a farm, until August 1937, when they moved to a farm in Burns, Kansas. It was here that dad grew to adulthood, farmed and eventually raised his own family.
Dad attended Garden Valley Grade School, district 43, in rural Moundridge until the age of 9, and then Wilcox Country Grade School in rural Burns graduating from Burns High School in 1944.
After High School dad worked on the family farm until entering voluntary service and 1W service in November 1954, under Mennonite Central Committee. His first assignment was at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, where he met his future wife, Martha Loewen. His most enjoyable service was the two seasons he operated the MCC portable meat canner traveling to different Mennonite communities and receiving the hospitality they provided the canner boys. In 1957, after a three year correspondence, Wilmer and Martha were married at First Mennonite Church of Reedley, California.
After marriage, dad continued farming with his father and brothers, eventually forming a partnership with his brother Clarence when their parents retired. Dad had many skills and we felt that he could fix or solve any problem with his determination not to give up. For the last 10 years he has worked as a greeter at Walmart.
Dad was baptized in 1942 upon his profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Living out his faith was central throughout dad’s entire life. He has been a faithful member of Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing Kansas for 75 years.
He is survived by his wife Martha, of 59 years, of Newton, KS, children Nancy and Marvin Harms of rural Newton, Barb and Mike McGee of Kechi, Brian and Julie Wedel of rural Moundridge, grandchildren Jana, Laura, Brett and Sara Harms, Robert and Alexis LaFave, Christann and James Covey, Riley McGee, Collin, Kaylee, and Addison Wedel, seven great grandchildren, brother Clarence and Thelma Wedel of rural Burns, sisters Ruth Andres and Jane Entz of Newton, sister-in-law Sue Loewen of Reedley, CA, many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Verna Regier, Elisabeth Regier, and Eleanor Wedel, brothers Stanley, Howard and Kenneth Wedel, sister’s in law Edith, Louise and Mae Wedel, Melita Janzen, brother’s in law William Regier, Ronald Andres, Arnold Entz, Milton Janzen and John Loewen.
Services will be held at Zion Mennonite Church, Elbing at 10:45 am, Monday, December 12, 2016 with burial at 10 am at the Zion Mennonite Church Cemetery, rural Elbing.
Viewing at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton, Sunday, December 11, 2016 from 1-6 pm, with family present from 2-4 pm.
Memorials are designated for MCC Meat Canning and Zion Mennonite Church of Elbing.
He was born in Halstead, KS, on September 13, 1926, the seventh of ten children of Herman and Christina Voran Wedel. The family lived in rural Moundridge on a farm, until August 1937, when they moved to a farm in Burns, Kansas. It was here that dad grew to adulthood, farmed and eventually raised his own family.
Dad attended Garden Valley Grade School, district 43, in rural Moundridge until the age of 9, and then Wilcox Country Grade School in rural Burns graduating from Burns High School in 1944.
After High School dad worked on the family farm until entering voluntary service and 1W service in November 1954, under Mennonite Central Committee. His first assignment was at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, where he met his future wife, Martha Loewen. His most enjoyable service was the two seasons he operated the MCC portable meat canner traveling to different Mennonite communities and receiving the hospitality they provided the canner boys. In 1957, after a three year correspondence, Wilmer and Martha were married at First Mennonite Church of Reedley, California.
After marriage, dad continued farming with his father and brothers, eventually forming a partnership with his brother Clarence when their parents retired. Dad had many skills and we felt that he could fix or solve any problem with his determination not to give up. For the last 10 years he has worked as a greeter at Walmart.
Dad was baptized in 1942 upon his profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Living out his faith was central throughout dad’s entire life. He has been a faithful member of Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing Kansas for 75 years.
He is survived by his wife Martha, of 59 years, of Newton, KS, children Nancy and Marvin Harms of rural Newton, Barb and Mike McGee of Kechi, Brian and Julie Wedel of rural Moundridge, grandchildren Jana, Laura, Brett and Sara Harms, Robert and Alexis LaFave, Christann and James Covey, Riley McGee, Collin, Kaylee, and Addison Wedel, seven great grandchildren, brother Clarence and Thelma Wedel of rural Burns, sisters Ruth Andres and Jane Entz of Newton, sister-in-law Sue Loewen of Reedley, CA, many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Verna Regier, Elisabeth Regier, and Eleanor Wedel, brothers Stanley, Howard and Kenneth Wedel, sister’s in law Edith, Louise and Mae Wedel, Melita Janzen, brother’s in law William Regier, Ronald Andres, Arnold Entz, Milton Janzen and John Loewen.
Services will be held at Zion Mennonite Church, Elbing at 10:45 am, Monday, December 12, 2016 with burial at 10 am at the Zion Mennonite Church Cemetery, rural Elbing.
Viewing at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton, Sunday, December 11, 2016 from 1-6 pm, with family present from 2-4 pm.
Memorials are designated for MCC Meat Canning and Zion Mennonite Church of Elbing.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wilmer Wedel, please visit our flower store.
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