Francis Benedict Wadedo 1914 - 1998

RIZK, WADEDO, ABBOUD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/28/2018 at 21:46:02

Sioux City Journal
17 June 1998

Long-time educator Francis Wadedo dies

Francis Benedict Wadedo, 84, of Sioux City died Monday, June 15, 1998, at a Sioux City hospital following a brief illness.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Dan Greving officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the American Legion Edward H. Monahan Post 64. Visitation will be 4 to 9 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 9 p.m. and a Scriptural wake service at 7 p.m. at Nelson-Berger Morningside Chapel. Mr. Wadedo was born June 1, 1914 in Sioux City, the son of Abdo and Lia (Rizk) Wadedo. He graduated from Central High School. He received a bachelor’s degree from Morningside College and a master’s degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

He served in the U.S. Army with the Antitank Company, 34th Infantry Division, 168th Infantry Regiment during World War II. He served in the North African and Italian campaigns. His decorations include the Purple Heart Medal.

He married Julie R. Abboud on November 24, 1945 in Omaha, Nebraska. He taught at West Junior High School for 11 years and at South Sioux City Senior High School for 23 years, retiring in 1983. He was the golf coach for 15 years and directed all senior class plays. He was also the announcer at all high school football games.

He served as vice president and president of the South Sioux City Teachers Education Association and served as the graduation commencement speaker in 1974.

He was a member of the Siouxland Y, the Immaculate Conception Men’s Club, the Marian Health Center Auxiliary and Volunteers, where he was named Volunteer of the Year. He was also a member of the America Legion, the Rotary Club, the Morningside Alumni Club and the University of Nebraska Alumni. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus.

He served as a former president of the Sioux City Choral Association, the American Horticulture Society and the Men’s Garden Club of America. He was a Master Gardener and taught Container Gardening at western Iowa Tech Community College. He initiated the development and served as lector and cantor at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Linda Jean and her husband Ronnie Jochims of Hinton, Iowa, Mary Lou and her husband Daniel R. Nichols of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Sue Ann and her husband David Ricker of Baldwinsville, N.Y. and Terri Jo Schweisthal of Denver, Colorado; nine grandchildren, Melissa Johnk, Jeremy, Christopher and Suzanna Nichols, Ryan and Rochelle Jochims, Leah and John Ricker and Emily Rose Schweisthal; a niece and a nephew.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Gary Michael; two sisters, Mary Wadedo Kaled and Cecelia Wadedo and a brother, Michael.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Jochims, Jeremy Nichols, Brian McGill, Lanny Johnk, Dave Ricker and Tom Rehan.