George Harold Wendel

George Harold Wendel, 86, of Mason City, died Wednesday, January 1, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with Chaplain Reverend Father Jerome Baker officiating. Interment will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery. Military Honors will be conducted by the Mason City Veterans Association. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM on Monday (January 6, 2014) at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue and continue one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), 1603 S. Monroe Avenue, Mason City, Iowa 50401. George was born March 30, 1927, in Mason City, the son of Harold Leroy (H.L.) and Liola Mary (Kilfoil) Wendel. He attended Mason City public schools. At age 18, George was drafted into the U.S.A.F. during WWII as an Airline and Engine Mechanic and served his country while stationed in Munich, Germany, until his honorable discharge on January 28, 1947. George married Jeannine DeVoIa Lucken on August 21, 1949, in Kensett, IA. Together they farmed for many years (Wendel Grain & Cattle Farm). George started farming in 1950 and rented property and a home from Alex Wohler. In 1958, George & Jeannine bought their first land and moved their family to the existing home site, which was located northwest of Mason City near his father's homestead. George lived at this farm site for approximately 60 years until he needed long-term care and resided in Mason City, Willow Pointe and Good Shepherd Nursing Home. George had several secondary jobs to help sustain the farm operation including the following: Mason City Brick & Tile, Weavers Readi Mix, and snow removal for the Willowbrook area. George is survived by: 3 daughters: Tanya Wendel and husband Thomas Norris of Indian Wells, CA, Kimberly Wendel of Clear Lake, IA, and Valerie Wendel-Filkins and husband Lyle Filkins of Omaha, NE; 4 sisters: Lila Perry of Scottsdale, AZ, Mary Ann Wendel-Baker and husband Rev. Jerome Baker of Mason City, Loyola 'Sherry' Bohnsack & friend Roy Myers of Mason City, Paula Chambers and husband John of Waterloo, IA; 2 brothers: Tom Wendel of Clear Lake and Harold Wendel and wife Doris of Mason City; and 2 sisters-in-law: Della Wendel of Charles City and Iris Wendel of Mason City. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife in 2012; 3 brothers: Howard, Clifford and Gerald Wendel; 1 sister: Juanita May Johnson; sister-in-law: Sharon Wendel; and brother-in-law: Vernon Perry.