Mordhorst, Walter A. (1918 - 2012)

MORDHORST, MEEVER, GUBBELS, WINN, PEETZ, MARIE, STODDARD

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 8/19/2013 at 17:53:50

Walter A. Mordhorst - Age 93

Walter August Mordhorst was born on February 23, 1918 in Bennington, Nebraska, to Fred and Emelie (Meever) Mordhorst. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Church in Bennington and received his early education there as well.

He entered the United States Army on January 1, 1942. On April 1, he was sent to Panama and served most of his two years and two months on active duty there. He served his country proudly and received his honorable discharge on October 20, 1945, having attained the rank of sergeant. After his military service, he worked for the Kruse brothers during the harvest. On September 3, 1949, Walter began his employment at Metz Baking Company in Omaha, Nebraska, where he stayed for thirty-two years before retiring on May 1, 1980.

Walter was united in marriage on April 22, 1972 to Bernice Gubbels at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa. They made their home in Harlan for over forty years.

He was a member of the Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 and the Shelby County VFW Post No. 941. He loved to travel. Walter and Bernice enjoyed a wonderful trip to Germany in 1977 and to Hawaii in 1980. They also did trips to Las Vegas, Nevada and to California to see his step-daughter and her husband.

In his retirement, he enjoyed spending time on the farm. He also enjoyed spending hours playing solitaire. In their younger days, Walter and Bernice were seen dancing to polka music.

Walter died on Sunday, January 29, 2012 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety-three years, eleven months, and six days. He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers: Elmer, Alfred, Edwin, and Emmet.

He is survived by his wife Bernice Mordhorst of Harlan, Iowa; step-daughter Norma Jean and her husband Dale Winn of Westminster, California; step-son Marlin Gubbels of Fort Dodge, Iowa; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two sisters Anne Marie of Bennington, Nebraska and Dorothy Peetz of Omaha, Nebraska; sister-in-law Helen Stoddard of Nebraska City, Nebraska; other family members and friends.

Pastor Steven Chellew officiated the 10:30 AM funeral service on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, Iowa. Marge Ahrenholtz accompanied vocalist Lee Nelson. Serving as casket bearers were Ronald Mordhorst, Orlin "Buck" Pauley, Kenneth Monahan, Steven Winn, Greg Gubbels, and Merlyn Wiese. Military Rites were provided by Shelby County VFW Post No. 941 and the Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Portsmouth, Iowa.

Source: pauleyjones.com (Pauley Jones Funeral Home)
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