Kenneth Wendel
Kenneth Storla Wendel, 91, of Postville, our dearest husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully with his family by his side Friday, February 26, 2021. Funeral services were held privately at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, with interment immediately following at Postville Cemetery.
Kenny was born November 8, 1929 to Earl G. and Olga S. (Storla) Wendel on the family farm just south of Churchtown. In 1934 the family moved to a farm north of Waterville. Kenny graduated from Waterville High School in 1948. He also began working on the farm with his father, learning to farm and milk cows.
September 16, 1950, he was united in marriage to Marcella A. Cowell at the Volney Methodist Church. Kenneth and Marcella moved to a farm in the Postville area in 1963. Kenneth’s parents also moved at that time and his father continued to assist with work on the farm.
They became members at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Kenneth served on the Church Council, was an usher for many years, and planted and maintained the beautiful rose garden at the church. He participated in the Share Food Program and volunteered with Meals on Wheels for 20 years.
In 1999, Kenneth and Marcella had a farm auction and moved to a house in Postville. However, Kenneth’s love of farming continued as he helped his friend, Ken Everman, by hauling loads of corn at harvest time until he was 88 years old. He also was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge in Postville.
Kenneth and Marcella moved to Cedar Court Senior Apartments in West Union in October 2020 and soon after moved to Good Samaritan Society in West Union. Kenny resided there from January 6, 2021 until he went to be with the Lord February 26, 2021.
Kenneth enjoyed gardening and canning produce and was known to share the extra produce with some lucky friends. He was a handy man who enjoyed house remodeling and constructing new buildings on their farm. Kenny enjoyed walking to the park to feed the squirrels and watch the many birds at their home feeders. He also liked going on bank-sponsored bus trips and traveling to Germany, Hawaii and Alaska.
He was known to have a sweet tooth and was rewarded with Marcella’s love of baking. Kenny was a great farmer, a Jack of all trades, and his memory will live on in our hearts.
Kenneth is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Marcella; his children, Susan (Bruce) Snively of West Union, Ronald (Jo Ellen) Wendel of Thorne Bay, AK and Sandra (Dennis) Bahls of Fayette; his grandchildren [great-grandchildren], Ann (John) Cannon [Cael, Chase, Caden Cannon]; Matthew Wendel, Jonathon Wendel, Courtney (Michael) Kreis, Lionel M. Ward, Rose Ward [Lionel J. Ward and Lilly Edinfield], Melissa (Jeff) Trumpold [Ethan Hines, Jamie and Zoe Trumpold], and Jordan (Beth) Bahls [Zayne Bahls and Cheyenne Larson]; his step-grandchildren, Jeff (Wendy) Snively, Kim (Kevin) Mork and Marc Snively, and their children and grandchildren; his special cousin, Joyce Kuhse of Postville; and several other cousins.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law, David Cowell; his mother-in-law, Wilma Cowell; his brothers-in-law, Duane, Bruce and George (Joanne) Cowell; and his son-in-law, Edward McNeil.
Condolences may be sent to Marcella Wendel, 326 East Elm Street, West Union, IA 52157. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union, Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospice in West Union, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, or a charity of your choice.
Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Postville handled funeral arrangements.
