Emil John Wendel

WENDEL

Posted By: Marthann (email)
Date: 12/9/2006 at 12:38:12

Emil John Wendel
Denison Bulletin/Review

Denison IA

12/08/2006

Emil John Wendel was born June 15, 1936, the son of Emil N. And Ida A. Linder Wendel. He died Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa at the age of 70.

Wendel was born in Union County, South Dakota and was baptized in Christ at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawarden, South Dakota. At the age of 6, his family moved to Moville, Iowa where he attended country school. He was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moville and graduated from Moville High School with the class of 1954. Due to his father's illness, Emil began farming with his family. In 1974, he moved to Denison and purchased his own farm. On June 25, 1983, Emil was united in marriage to Lois Reitz and the couple made their home on a farm east of Denison.

For more than 52 years, he loved farming and working the land. He also had a fondness for 18 wheelers, and worked for several trucking companies as he drove over the road after harvest time during the winters. In recent years, he enjoyed going to tractor parades and rallies with his antique red Farmalls.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother in infancy; his nephew, Todd Wendel; his brother-in-law, LeRoy Burk and his wife, Lila; and his sister-in-law, Diane Nepper.

He is survived by his wife, Lois of Denison; his son, John J. Wendel; three sisters: Katherine Henshaw of Sioux City, Iowa; and Delores Benedix of Moville, Iowa; and Jo-Ann Leach and her husband, Ray of Bossier City, Louisiana; two brothers: Jim Wendel and his wife, Marilyn of Stanwood, Iowa; and Ray Wendel and his wife, Carol of Granger, Iowa; one sister-in-law, Carolyn Hilker and her husband, Jim of Ida Grove; one brother-in-law, Raymond Nepper of Ida Grove; four step-children: Kirk, Pam, Darren, and Jason Reitz; one granddaughter, Lauren Wendel; six step-grandchildren; and seven step-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 27, 2006 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa. Rev. David Loeschen officiated the services and grave side rites held at the Ida Grove Cemetery in Ida Grove, Iowa. Organist Mary Kuhlmann provided the organ accompaniment for the congregational hymns, "I'm But A Stranger Here," "On Eagle's Wings," and "How Great Thou Art." Those serving as pallbearers were: Vernon Volkmann, Cordell Knudsen, Jeff Wendel, Rodney Benedix, Chris Knudsen, and John Birk. The family invited everyone in attendance to join them in fellowship and lunch served by the Ladies Aid. The Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of the arrangements.