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BIRDSALL, Weston D. 1920-2014

BIRDSALL, MCCREERY, WODDER

Posted By: County Coordinator (kermit)
Date: 12/6/2014 at 14:26:46

#1:

Weston "Wes" Birdsall
(Died December 5, 2014)

U.S. Veteran

Weston “Wes” D. Birdsall, age 93, of Osage, passed away Friday, December 5, 2014, at Osage Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Osage. Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Wes was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 28, 1920, the son of Albert B. and Mary Helen (McCreery) Birdsall. He graduated as valedictorian from Brecksville (Ohio) High School in 1938 and went on to graduate from Ohio State University in 1942 with a B.S. in Education. He also received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nebraska in 1949. Wes served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He married Anne Marie Wodder on May 29, 1943 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kronborg, Nebraska. To this union were born five children: Susanne, Sonne, Scott, Shan, and Steven.

Wes was employed by Phillips Petroleum in Des Moines, moving to Osage in 1953 to become a partner in Davidson’s Gas and Electric. From 1972 to 1992 Wes served as general manager of Osage Municipal Utilities and became known state-, nation-, and worldwide for his innovative energy conservation measures. After retirement from OMU he taught classes on energy conservation at the University of Northern Iowa.

Wes was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church where he served as president of the congregation and usher. He was a founding member of the Osage Rotary Club, served on the board at Home Trust Bank and was a member at Sunny Brae Golf and Country Club. His hobbies and interests included woodworking, collecting antique tools, environment and energy conservation, planting trees (by the thousands!), golfing, opera and Anne’s music (and sometimes his kids’!) and attending his children’s and grandchildren’s (and a few great-grandchildren’s) activities.

Wes will be remembered by his family as an awesome dad, husband, grandpa, great-grandpa, son, and brother. He instilled his love of nature in his kids and grandkids, and was an amazing example of generosity, stewardship, and grace. His sense of humor is legendary, and he could make everyone feel comfortable and at ease. His faith in and love for his Lord, Jesus, was evident in every area of his life. He loved his wife, Anne, with an uncommon love that lasted more than seven decades. His kids, grandkids, and greats, will remember silly readings of “Strega Nona”, games of “bear”, planting and trimming trees, exploring the woods, and building stuff out of wood in the basement workshop. Wes will be remembered in the community as a pioneer and leader in the area of conservation, a leader in his church, an average duffer, an honest and forthright businessman, and a proud Rotarian. He will be missed by all. Wes and Anne lived on an acreage overlooking the Cedar River and the golf course until 2010 when they moved to Apple Valley. They were residents at Osage Rehab from 2012 until present.

Wes is survived by his wife of 71 years, Anne Birdsall; children, Sonne (Pat Doyle) Nielsen of Floyd, IA, Scott (Debra) Birdsall of Winona, MN, and Shan (Tammy) Birdsall of Salt Springs, FL; daughter-in-law, Julie Birdsall of Windsor, CO; grandchildren, Aaron (Alyssa) Granquist of North Liberty, IA, Laura Schotanus of Osage, Matthew (Sarah) Granquist of Burlington, IA, Emily (Nick) Weber of Denver, CO, Erin (Solomon) Miller of Loveland, CO, Joseph Birdsall of Milwaukee, WI, Bethany Birdsall of Madrid, Spain, Jonathan Birdsall of Iowa City, IA and Tayler Birdsall of Windsor, CO; great-grandchildren, Mitchell Schotanus, Sydney and Will Granquist, Ava and Kora Granquist, Weston and Emma Weber, and Josie and Abraham Miller; siblings Clifford (Maggie Boschert) Birdsall of Punta Gorda, FL, and Janet Temple of Santa Rosa, CA, and sister-in-law Ruth Wodder of Lincoln, NE.

Wes was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Susie McCreery Birdsall; great-grandson, Cole Granquist; daughter, Susanne Baty; son, Steven Birdsall; and son-in-law, Corliss Baty.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home 641-732-3706

Source: Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home website
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#2:

Weston "Wes" and Anne Birdsall Memorial Service

Weston “Wes” D. Birdsall, age 93, of Osage, passed away on Friday, December 5, 2014, at Osage Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Osage. He was soon followed by his wife, Anne Marie (Wodder) Birdsall, age 90, of Osage, who was called home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, also at Osage Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Osage.

Memorial services for Wes and Anne Birdsall will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, August, 21, 2015, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage, Iowa, with Rev. Bryan Lagerstam officiating. Inurnment will be at the Osage Cemetery. There will be a gathering of family and friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 20, 2015, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Fireside Room. Those attending the gathering are asked to please enter through the fellowship hall entrance on the south side of the building.

Wes was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 28, 1920, the son of Albert B. and Mary Helen (McCreery) Birdsall. He graduated as valedictorian from Brecksville (Ohio) High School in 1938 and went on to graduate from Ohio State University in 1942 with a B.S. in Education. He also received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nebraska in 1949. Wes served in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps during World War II.

Anne was born in Aurora, Nebraska, on May 15, 1924, the daughter of Niels and Laura (Nielsen) Wodder. She graduated as valedictorian from Marquette (Nebraska) High School in 1942 and University of Nebraska in 1946 with a B.A. in Education. Anne and Wes were married on May 29, 1943, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kronborg, Nebraska. To this union were born five children: Susanne, Sonne, Scott, Shan, and Steven.

Wes was employed by Phillips Petroleum in Des Moines, moving with his growing family to Osage in 1953 to become a partner in Davidson’s Gas and Electric. From 1972 to 1992 Wes served as general manager of Osage Municipal Utilities and became known state-, nation-, and worldwide for his innovative energy conservation measures. After retirement from OMU he taught classes on energy conservation at the University of Northern Iowa.

Wes was a founding member of the Osage Rotary Club, served on the board at Home Trust Bank and was a member at Sunny Brae Golf and Country Club. His hobbies and interests included woodworking, collecting antique tools, environment and energy conservation, his John Deere tractor, planting trees (by the thousands!), golfing, opera and Anne’s music (and sometimes his kids’!) and attending his children’s and grandchildren’s (and a few great-grandchildren’s) activities.

Anne was a life-long pianist and organist, teaching private lessons on both instruments. She was a member of WELCA and the Osage chapter of Federated Music Clubs and was a Shaklee distributor. Her interests, hobbies and skills included sewing, art, music, nature, animals and writing. Anne taught piano to all five of her children which established a love of music (though not necessarily of practicing!) in each of them. She also shared Wes’s passion for environmental and energy conservation initiatives. Her love for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was evident in all areas of her life, from the raising of her children and love for her husband, to her worship through music and care for her own and Wes’s health and the environment.

Wes and Anne were members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church where Wes served as president of the congregation and usher and Anne served as the organist for over 50 years. Anne taught the Bethel Series at OSLC and accompanied choirs and soloists for many years. Wes and Anne lived on an acreage, in a beautiful A frame home they built, overlooking the Cedar River and the golf course from 1962 until 2010 when they moved to Apple Valley Assisted Living. They were residents at Osage Rehab from 2012 until their passing.

Wes and Anne shared an uncommon love for each other that lasted more than seven decades. They will be remembered by their family as awesome spouses, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and siblings. They instilled their love of nature in their children and grandchildren and were both amazing examples of generosity, stewardship, and grace. Their faith in and love for our Lord Jesus, was evident in every area of their lives. Wes’s sense of humor is legendary, and he could make everyone feel comfortable and at ease. G’pa Wes’s kids, grandkids, and greats, will remember silly readings of “Strega Nona”, games of “bear”, planting and trimming trees, exploring the woods, and building stuff out of wood in the basement workshop. They will remember G’ma Anne teaching them to pray, helping them explore their creative talents, patiently working through a difficult piano piece, and teaching little hands to sew. Wes will be remembered in the community as a pioneer and leader in the area of conservation, a leader in his church, an average duffer, an honest and forthright businessman, and a proud Rotarian. Anne will be remembered and honored as one of North Iowa’s finest pianists and organists, as well as the much-loved teacher of dozens of students. They will be missed by all.

Memorial donations in Wes's honor can be made to Project Share or Green City Energy programs at Osage Municipal Utilities. Memorial gifts in Anne’s honor may be made to St. Croix Hospice in New Hampton, Iowa, or to the music program at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage.

Wes and Anne are survived by children, Sonne (Pat Doyle) Nielsen of Floyd, IA, Scott (Debra) Birdsall of Winona, MN, and Shan (Tammy) Birdsall of Salt Springs, FL; daughter-in-law, Julie Birdsall of Windsor, CO; grandchildren, Aaron (Alyssa) Granquist of North Liberty, IA, Laura (partner, Rob Schotanus) Schotanus of Osage, Matthew (Sarah) Granquist of Burlington, IA, Emily (Nick) Weber of Denver, CO, Erin (Solomon) Miller of Loveland, CO, Joseph Birdsall of Milwaukee, WI, Bethany Birdsall of Winona, MN, Jonathan Birdsall of Iowa City, IA and Tayler Birdsall of Windsor, CO; great-grandchildren, Mitchell Schotanus, Sydney and Will Granquist, Ava and Kora Granquist, Weston and Emma Weber, and Josie and Abraham Miller. Wes is survived by siblings, Clifford (Maggie Boschert) Birdsall of Punta Gorda, FL, and Janet Temple of Santa Rosa, CA. Anne is survived by her sister, Claire Tornwall of Gainesville, FL; and sister-in-law, Ruth Wodder of Lincoln, NE. They were preceded in death by their parents, Wes’s step-mother, Susie (McCreery) Birdsall, Anne’s brother, Niels Wodder, great grandson, Cole Granquist, daughter, Susanne Baty, son, Steven Birdsall, and son-in-law, Corliss Baty.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home 641-732-3706

Source: Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, 14 AUG 2015

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