Wandling, Thomas Lee 1948 - 2024

WANDLING, DANKER, FIET, WITTENBERG

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 10/12/2024 at 11:28:49

Thomas Wandling age 75, of Decorah, passed away Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at his home.

Funeral Service will be held at Glenwood Lutheran Church on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Matthew Rossler presiding. Burial to follow service, at Pontoppidan Cemetery with Full Military Rites.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 East Water Street in Decorah.

Thomas Lee Wandling was born November 7th, 1948, to Roy and Dorothy (Danker) Wandling. He was the oldest of 5 children.

Tom graduated from Waukon High School. He enlisted in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic during the Vietnam War. Later in life, he re-enlisted this time in the Army as a flight engineer on a CH-47 Chinook Helicopter during the Gulf War. Tom was very proud of his military service. Last year he was honored to be part of Iowa’s Honor Flight to Washington DC where he was accompanied by his son Brodie.

Tom farmed with his Dad for a few years and worked at Waukon Yamaha as a motorcycle mechanic. After the Gulf War, he worked for several years at Stanley Black and Decker (Camcar) as a tool maker.

Tom met and married Toni in 1980. They loved to tell how their first date out was with his parents and the second date Toni took him to her family gathering. They were married for 44 years. They raised two boys, who were Tom’s pride and joy. Tom loved being busy. He enjoyed working outside and in his shop. He could fix anything as his boys will tell you. Their Dad is who they called to help them troubleshoot. Tom also had a pilot license and enjoyed flying. He enjoyed fishing with his son Jesse and doing Motocross with his son Brodie. He was a man of many talents. Later, when he and his wife were close to retirement, they purchased a camper. Tom was a quiet man until he started camping and you saw the social butterfly come out of him. He loved visiting with other campers and talking about all the National and State Parks he had been to. His goal was to camp in every state of the US and as many Canadian Territories/Provinces as he could. He accomplished 35 states and 6 Canadian Territories/Provinces.

Tom is survived by his wife Toni, and his sons Jesse (Silke)Wandling and Brodie (Justina) Wandling. His brothers; Gene (Tamara) Wandling, Al (Christina) Wandling, sister Cindy (Loren) Fiet, and brother-in-law Tom Wittenberg. His grandchildren Anja and Miriam Wandling, Tristan and Jordan Wandling. And many nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his daughter Lacey Lynn Wandling, parents Roy and Dorothy Wandling, and sister Carol Wittenberg.

Source: Helms Funeral Home database

Pontoppidan Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen