WEGNER, Russell W. 1923-2004

WEGNER, WAIDELICH, MEYER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/17/2009 at 17:15:31

#1 of 2 items:

RUSSELL W. WEGNER

CHARLES CITY, IOWA — Russell W. Wegner, 80, of 85 Riverside Ave. in Charles City, died early Saturday morning (June 19, 2004) at the Salsbury Baptist Home in Charles City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 200 S. Main St. in Charles City, with the Rev. David Werges officiating. Interment will be in Sunnyside Memory Gardens in Charles City, with military graveside honors provided by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit.

The family will greet friends from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St. in Charles City. The visitation will continue one hour prior to his service on Tuesday at the church.

Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may direct them to the Russell W. Wegner Memorial Fund.

Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home and Cremation Services, (641) 228-4211, www.fullertonfh.com .

[Globe Gazette]

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#2 of 2 items:

RUSSELL W. WEGNER

CHARLES CITY, IOWA — Russell W. Wegner, 80, of 85 Riverside Ave. in Charles City, died early Saturday morning (June 19, 2004) at the Salsbury Baptist Home in Charles City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 200 S. Main St. in Charles City with the Rev. David Werges officiating. Interment will be in Sunnyside Memory Gardens in Charles City with military graveside honors provided by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit.

The family will greet friends from 4 until 7:30 p.m. today at Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St. in Charles City. The visitation will continue one hour prior to his service on Tuesday at the church.

Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may direct them to the Russell W. Wegner Memorial Fund.

Russell William Wegner was born November 2, 1923, on his parent’s farm in rural Floyd County. He was the son of Edith (Waidelich) and Frederick Wegner, Sr., and was the firstborn of two sons. Russell was baptized and confirmed at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charles City.

During his youth, Russell developed a close friendship with the Ross-Zimmerman family, who lived across the road from his family. He was a member of the graduating class of 1942 at Charles City High School.

Russell was inducted into the United States Army in August of 1945 and served his country during World War II, attaining the rank of corporal. After honorably and faithfully serving during the conflict, Russell was formally discharged from his military duties in January of 1947.

Russell met his future wife, Eileen L. Meyer, at the Reis Café in Charles City and the couple were married on April 3, 1949, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ionia, Iowa. A few months later, Russell and Eileen traveled to Canada to celebrate a delayed honeymoon. They moved to a farm in Floyd County, one half mile from where Russell was raised. This farm became the family farm and their home until 1989, when the couple moved into their home in Charles City.

Russell and Eileen enjoyed a busy farm life and leisurely danced to all types of “old- time music.” Russell particularly was known to favor polkas. The family recalls his fondness for games of cards, such as, pinochle, “500,” checkers and euchre.

All who knew Russell were familiar with his love of the outdoors. He waited anxiously to climb upon his John Deere tractors and tend to the plantings of his crops in the spring and harvest in the fall. He also treasured time spent caring for his livestock, fishing in Canada, vegetable gardening and applauding in the stands for the Charles City softball teams.

Russell was a fan of all sports but favored watching wrestling, softball and supporting his home state by cheering on both the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones.

Russell was greatly involved with his community. He was a member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, the American Legion, Farm Bureau, and the Moose Lodge; he served 15 years on the Farm Service Co-op Board, six years on the Floyd Co. Pork Producers’ Board and was a 4-H leader for six years.

Russell is described by his family as a very caring, loving, easy-going and quiet mannered man.

Farming, family and his faith were his passions and he found great peace and pleasure being closely surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren.

Those grateful for having had the privilege of sharing in Russell’s life are his wife of 55 years, Eileen Wegner of Charles City; his two sons, Duane (Christine) Wegner of Charles City and Alan (Karen) Wegner of Ionia; his sister-in-law, Betty Wegner, of Clear Lake.

He will also be dearly missed by his six grandchildren, JesseWegner, Tanner Wegner, McKenzie Wegner, Sarah Wegner, Amanda Wegner and Ryan Wegner.

Five of Russell’s grandchildren will honor their grandfather by serving as casketbearers at the funeral. Tanner Wegner will attend his grandfather’s service in spirit as he is currently serving our country in the United States Air Force and is stationed in Japan.

Russell is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Frederick Wegner, Jr.

Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home and Cremation Services, (641) 228-4211. www.fullertonfh.com

[Mason City Globe Gazette]