Eldon Wenger 1918-2000

WEGNER, HEITKAMP, HESS, KENNEY, FRANTZ, RADEBAUGH, STURTZ

Posted By: David Hellwege (email)
Date: 6/26/2006 at 16:43:47

Eldon Leslie Wenger, 82, Beaver, died Sunday at Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames. He was born Nov. 12, 1918, in Amaqua Township, the son of John Frederick and Caroline "Carrie" Louise (Heitkamp) Wenger. He married Irene May Hess Dec. 13, 1937, in Davenport.

He was baptized in the Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden and attended schools in Beaver. He and his wife lived on a farm north of Jefferson before moving to Des Moines where he worked for Des Moines Steel Buildings. The family then moved to Port Orchard, Wash., where he worked in the shipyards. From 1944 to 1946 he served with the United States Army in Japan and the Philippines with the 374th Infantry Battalion. Following an honorable discharge, he and his family moved back to Jefferson and then to Beaver where he was self-employed, hauling gravel and shelling corn during the day and hauling livestock at night. He owned and operated Wenger Truck Line, Inc., which later became Beaver Truck Line, Inc. He operated the business for more than 40 years and established offices in Beaver, Omaha, Neb., and Chicago, Ill., where livestock, grain and steel were transported. He also owned and operated Wenger Farms, Inc., and in his retirement he enjoyed working with his cows and calves. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden, the Beaver School Board, and the Beaver Town Council. His hobbies included spending time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Ernest, John, Glen, Rueben, and Vernon; three sisters, Alma Wenger, Frieda Kenney, and Minnie Frantz; and one granddaughter, Lisa Wenger. Survivors include his wife; four children and their spouses, Colleen I. Radebaugh and her husband, William H., of Grand Junction, Eldo E. Wenger and his wife, Pam, of Stockton, Calif., Jacqueline J. Sturtz and her hsuband, Roger, of Humboldt, and Roger L. Wenger of Kansas City, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden with the Rev. Stephen Ude officiating. Burial will be in Beaver Cemetery in Beaver.

Friends may call at Carson Funeral Home in Ogden Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m.

Carson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

[Source: Boone News-Republican via the WWW.]