Wendel H. Hefner 1927 - 2002

HEFNER, BARTLING, WILLMS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/6/2014 at 21:25:47

Sioux City Journal
26 March 2002

Wendel H. Hefner, 75, of Sioux City died Sunday, March 24, 2002, at his residence following a brief illness.

Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Morningside Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Kevin Lee officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Ridge Cemetery, Coleridge, Neb., with military rites conducted by American Legion Karl Kroth Post of Coleridge. Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m. with the Rev. Eric Spake officiating, at Nelson-Berger Morningside Chapel.

Mr. Hefner was born Feb. 24, 1927, in Coleridge, the son of George and Alvina (Bartling) Hefner. He graduated from Coleridge High School and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He attended the University of Nebraska.

He married Avis S. Willms on Nov. 26, 1950, in Coleridge. The couple farmed near Coleridge until 1956. He began his career with Postal Finance in 1956 in Sioux City, and worked for Postal in Sioux City, Lincoln and Omaha, Neb. He retired from Postal as senior vice president and director of operations. He became president of Siouxland Federal Credit Union in February 1984, and retired from Siouxland Federal Credit Union in 2000, at the age of 72.

He served the following community groups: Waco Inc. board of directors; South Sioux City Kiwanis, as president; South Sioux City Chamber of Commerce, as president; Junior Achievement board of directors; Special Olympics board of directors; Toastmasters; Orpheum Preservation Fund-raising; Karl Korth American Legion Post of Coleridge; United Way of Siouxland board of directors; and the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce.

He also was a member of Morningside Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council and numerous church boards, including the Endowment Fund and Word Alone Task Force.

He is survived by his wife; five children, Christine H. Christensen and her husband, Anders of Minneapolis, Rebecca A. Nelson and her husband, Robert of Sioux City, Michael H. Hefner and his wife, Nancy of Grimes, Iowa, Deborah J. Johnstone and her husband, Shelby of Sioux City, and Andrew J. Hefner of Sioux City; 13 grandchildren, Rachel, William, Peter and Charles Hollender, Katie and Aimee Nelson, Angie Owen and her husband, Doug, Patti, David and Gregory Hefner and Christopher, Nick and Ryan Johnstone; and five stepgrandchildren, Heather Rocheford and her husband, Andy, Rebecca Hollender, Robbie Kerkorian, Morwena Christensen and Ceridwen Christensen and her husband, Richard Mueller.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Marvin and Gerhardt; and a son-in-law, Fred Hollender.

Pallbearers will be his nephews, Bill Hefner, Doug Hefner, Steve Johnson, George R. Hefner, Kerry Hefner, George G. Hefner, Monte Hefner, Brian Hefner and Allen Hahne.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Siouxland, Morningside Lutheran Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church Building Fund in Coleridge or Coleridge High School Scholarship Fund.