Kono, Wendell E. 1910-2004

KONO, JOHNSON, EMERY, PETERMEIER, MEYER, CONN, BERGER, CRADY, HALTER, HARDENBROOK

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 6/24/2005 at 21:46:38

Wendell E. Kono, 93, of 2130 W. 18th St. S. died Saturday, Jan. 17, at Skiff Medical Center in Newton.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton. The Rev. Steven Pannkuk of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Newton will officiate. Cremation will follow the services.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home where the family will be available from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials will be accepted to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church or to the American Diabetes Association and may be left at the funeral home.

The son of Levi William and Hilda Victoria Josephine (Johnson) Kono, he was born May 29, 1910, in Dolliver. On April 5, 1930, he married Frances Theadocia Emery in Newton. He worked in the machine shop for the Maytag Company and retired in 1972. He also owned and operated a bicycle shop in Newton for years. He was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and UAW Local 997 Retirees Union.

Mr. Kono built the first two-seater bicycle in Newton. He enjoyed gardening, woodworking and working on his home. He enjoyed seeing and being with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a resident of Newton since the late 1920s.

Survivors include his wife; a son, LeRoy E. Kono of Newton; five daughters and sons-in-law, Evelyn and Clifford Petermeier, Jean and Norman "Shorty" Meyer, Judy and Jeff Conn and Sally and Terry Berger, all of Newton, and Wendy and Don Crady of Overland Park, Kan.; 19 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and a brother and sister-in-law, Gerald and Abby Kono of Newton.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son-in-law, Bruce Halter; a granddaughter and great-granddaughter; a brother, Lawrence Kono; and two sister, Irene Kono and Lucille Kono in infancy.

Newton (IA) Daily News, Tuesday, January 20, 2004

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Kono, Wendell E.
May 29, 1910 - January 17, 2004 Newton, Iowa

Visitation: Friends may call after 1 P.M., Thursday, January 22, 2004 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home. The family will greet friends from 6-8 P.M., Thursday at the funeral home.

Funeral Service: 11 A.M., Friday, January 23, 2004 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home. Cremation will follow the services.

Interment: at Burial of the cremated remains will be held at a later date.

Those left to honor Wendell's memory are his wife of 73 years, Frances of Newton; son, LeRoy E. Kono of Newton; his 5 daughters and sons-in-law, Evelyn and Clifford Petermeier of Newton, Jean and Norman "Shorty" Meyer of Newton, Judy and Jeff Conn of Newton, Wendy and Don Crady of Overland Park, Kansas and Sally and Terry Berger of Newton; 19 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren and 2 step great-grandchildren; and his brother and sister-in-law, Gerald and Abby Kono of Newton.

Wendell was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Bruce Halter; granddaughter, Lynn Meyer; great-granddaughter, Linsey Beth Hardenbrook; brother, Lawrence Kono and 2 sisters, Irene Kono and Lucille Kono in infancy.

Wendell worked for the Maytag Company in the machine shop for 40+ years, retiring in 1972. He also had a bicycle shop in Newton for many years.

Wendell was a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and of UAW Local 997 Retirees Union. He built the first bicycle built for 2 in Newton. Wendell enjoyed gardening, wood working and working on his home. He also loved to see and be with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorials to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church or to the American Diabetes Association may be left at the funeral home.