Adair V. Kaehlar 1929 - 2018
WYLAND, KAEHLAR, WOODRICH
Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/23/2018 at 12:29:20
Adair V. Kaehlar, 89, of Whiting, Iowa passed from this life on December 21, 2018 surrounded by those who loved him most.
Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, December 27, 2018 at the Whiting Christian Church with Pastor Josh Weece and Pastor Bryce McFarland officiating. Burial will be in the Whiting City Cemetery with military honors by the United States Army and the Emery Johnson American Legion Post #481 of Whiting, Iowa. Visitation will be 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, December 26, 2018 with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. led by Ken Carlson at the Whiting Christian Church in Whiting, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service, Onawa, Iowa.
He was born July 19, 1929 the son of Virgil Charles Kaehlar and Arvilla Repurta (Wyland) Kaehlar.
Adair served his country in the 194th field artillery state side and in Germany, attaining the rank of Staff Sgt.
He was born and raised in Onawa, IA, attending Onawa Public School graduating from Onawa High School in 1947. Adair then went on to specialized training in the knowledge and skills in meat cutting and merchandising. He also graduated from Iowa’s first Emergency Medical Technicians class in Onawa then became an instructor for several area ambulance services. He taught EMT classes for Western Iowa Tech and Burgess Health Center while working as the meat department manager at Safeway in Onawa.
While working at Safeway, Adair met his soul mate, Nancy Lou Woodrich of Whiting. They were united in marriage on June 14, 1953 at the Whiting Christian Church in Whiting, Iowa. After they were married they moved to Blair, Nebraska for one and a half years then back to Whiting. They lived in the Onawa and Whiting area most of their lives having lived in the same home for 63 years. To this union one daughter was born, Cindy Lou (Kaehlar) Frank now of Winterset, Iowa.
Adair was a member of the Whiting Christian Church where he served many years as an Elder, Deacon and Bible School Superintendent.
Adair was well known for his love of music, specifically guitars, playing since the age of eight. He at one time had a collection of 31 guitars, which were all in tune and each one was played on a regular basis. Adair started a country/gospel group, Monona Country Gospel, in approximately 1985. Monona Country was a group of local musicians who shared his love of music and enjoyed playing and singing. They met every Friday night at the Kaehlar home in the music room to practice so they were ready at a moments notice to entertain folks at such events as the Lewis and Clark Festival, nursing homes and churches around the area. There was a number years where Adair, Cindy and friends played on a Christian radio station in Sioux City once a month. Next to the love of his God and his family he loved cars. He loved talking about cars, looking at cars and dreaming about cars and he could tell you something special about every vehicle he ever owned. Once Safeway closed Adair worked as a meat cutter at a couple different grocery stores until he and Nancy bought their grocery store, Onawa Foods, until they closed the store in 1995. Adair was always looking for avenues for his music, hosting music programs at their store, inside and outside. Adair and Nancy loved Christmas and they were well known for the Christmas trees decorating up to 35 trees at one time. They were written up in the Sioux City Journal and interviewed on KTIV for their love of Christmas. One of his favorite things to do was to sit on the back porch and watch Charlie the squirrel eat corn at Charlie’s diner. Adair and Nancy didn’t travel much but they did love Branson where Adair opened for The Plummers at their theater. When Adair called or talked with Cindy, he always asked about his favorite daughter, to which her reply was always, “ya right…I’m the only one”.
Adair is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nancy; daughter, Cindy (Tom) Frank of Winterset, IA; three grandchildren, Betsy Kae (Bryan) Snyder, Katie Jane (Lee) Hall and Christopher Thomas Frank all of Winterset, IA; four great-grandchildren, Brady Snyder, Blake Synder, Brigham Snyder, Layla Hall; and one great-grandson Hall to be born in May.
He was preceded in death by his parents Virgil C. Kaehlar and Arvilla R. Kaehlar; two sisters, Bonnie Jean Madsen and Naomi Kaehlar (infant); and grandson, Sammy Frank (infant).
Memorials in Adair’s memory may be directed to the Whiting Christian Church in Whiting, Iowa or Burgess Health Center in Onawa, Iowa.
Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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