Wilmer Wedel
1926 - 2016
Obituary
Wilmer Wedel, 90, died Thursday (Dec.
8, 2016) at Newton Medical Center.
He was born in Halstead on Sept. 13,
1926, the seventh of 10 children of Herman and Christina Voran Wedel.
The family lived in rural Moundridge, on a farm, until August 1937,
when they moved to a farm in Burns. It was here that Wilmer grew to
adulthood, farmed and eventually raised his own family.
Wilmer attended Garden Valley Grade
School, district 43, in rural Moundridge until the age of nine, and
then Wilcox Country Grade School in rural Burns, graduating from
Burns High School in 1944.
After high school, Wilmer worked on the
family farm until entering voluntary service and 1W service in
November 1954, under the Mennonite Central Committee. His first
assignment was at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda,
Maryland, where he met his future wife, Martha Loewen. His most
enjoyable service was the two seasons he operated the MCC portable
meat canner, traveling to different Mennonite communities and
receiving the hospitality they provided the canner boys. In 1957,
after a three year correspondence, Wilmer and Martha were married at
First Mennonite Church of Reedley, California.
After marriage, Wilmer continued
farming with his father and brothers, eventually forming a
partnership with his brother Clarence when their parents retired. He
had many skills and his family felt that he could fix or solve any
problem with his determination to not give up. For the last 10 years,
he worked as a greeter at Walmart.
Wilmer was baptized in 1942, upon his
profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Living out his faith was central
throughout his entire life. He was a faithful member of Zion
Mennonite Church in Elbing for 75 years.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years,
Martha, of Newton; children, Nancy and Marvin Harms of rural Newton,
Barb and Mike McGee of Kechi and Brian and Julie Wedel of rural
Moundridge; grandchildren, Jana, Laura, Brett and Sara Harms, Robert
and Alexis LaFave, Christann and James Covey, Riley McGee, Collin,
Kaylee and Addison Wedel; seven great-grandchildren; brother,
Clarence and Thelma Wedel of rural Burns; sisters, Ruth Andres and
Jane Entz of Newton; sister-in-law Sue Loewen of Reedley, California;
and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his
parents; sisters, Verna Regier, Elisabeth Regier and Eleanor Wedel;
brothers, Stanley, Howard and Kenneth Wedel; sisters-in-law, Edith,
Louise and Mae Wedel and Melita Janzen; and brothers-in-law, William
Regier, Ronald Andres, Arnold Entz, Milton Janzen and John Loewen.
Services will be at 10:45 a.m. Monday
(Dec. 12, 2016) at Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing, with burial at 10
a.m. at the Zion Mennonite Church Cemetery.
Viewing will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday
(Dec. 11, 2016) at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton, with the
family present from 2 to 4 p.m.
Memorials are designated for MCC Meat
Canning and Zion Mennonite Church of Elbing.
Condolences may be left at
www.broadwaycolonialfh.com
