Wabeke, Cornelius, Jr. (1935-2018)

WABEKE, MUILENBURG, GOERINGER, DAWSON, PIKE

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/6/2019 at 19:07:18

Cornelius Wabeke, Jr.
July 23, 1935 - December 19, 2018

Cornelius Wabeke, Jr., age 83, of Newell, Iowa, died on Wednesday, December 19, 2018, at the Good Samaritan Center in Newell.

Cornelius, a son of Cornelius and Helen (Muilenburg) Wabeke, was born on July 23, 1935, in Pipestone, Minnesota. Baptized and raised in the Methodist faith, Connie attended school in Pipestone until the age of 9 when his family moved to Sioux Center, Iowa. There, he continued his education graduating from Sioux Center High School in 1953. Next, he attended Northwestern Junior College in Orange City where he played football and met his future wife, Dolores. Later, he attended Buena Vista College where he earned a bachelor’s degree.

On April 7, 1958, Connie married Dolores Goeringer. They lived in Dundalk, Maryland, while Connie was serving in the U.S. Army. That fall, however, they were transferred to Detroit, Michigan. While in the Army, Connie served in military intelligence from October of 1957 until September of 1960. After his discharge, Connie worked at several odd jobs before Gilbert Hill hired him as a loan’s officer at the First National Bank, a position he held until he retired in 1995. Throughout his time in Newell, Iowa, Connie became an important supporter of the Newell-Providence, Newell-Fonda Schools and their booster clubs through their scholarship programs. In addition, he served on numerous committees for the City of Newell, helping to build the nursing home, city park, and pool. Moreover, Connie, always, participated in the Homecoming Parade where he would throw out hundreds of popcorn balls.

Active in his church, St. Peter’s Lutheran, Connie served as a Lutheran Vicar, Elder, treasurer, Sunday school teacher, and superintendent. While engaged as a Lutheran Vicar, he served congregations in need and performed weddings. In addition, he joined the Lions Club. In his free time, he liked hunting, golfing, woodworking, locksmithing, and watching NCIS.

Those left to cherish his memory include: his two children, Cordell (Marcia) Wabeke, of Ankeny, Iowa, and Wendy (Michael) Dawson, of Springfield, Missouri; his grandchildren: Abby and Cameron Wabeke; and Emma, Jack, and Christian Dawson; and his brother, Gerrit Wabeke; as well as many relatives and friends. Connie was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dolores; his brothers: Arie, Jake, Frank, John, and Cap Wabeke; and his sister, Christina Pike.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 22, 2018, at 3:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Newell. Burial will follow in the Newell Cemetery. Visitation will start at 2:00 p.m. and last until the service at the CHURCH. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell is in charge of the arrangements.

Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes, Newell, Iowa, 2018.

Buena Vista Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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