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DeWayne Lee Wedel |
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October 11, 1927 ~ June 22, 2017 |
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June 26, 2017 |
DeWayne Lee Wedel was born to Vernon and Bertha
Jantz Wedel on October 11, 1927, in Copeland,
Kansas. He passed into eternity on June 22,
2017, reaching the age of 89 years.
Funeral services were held on June 26, 2017, at
Mt. View Congregation, Bonners Ferry, Idaho,
with Ministers Willis Dyck, Ben Nystrom, Shane
Ensz, Glenn Ensz, and David Koehn officiating.
Burial was in the adjoining church cemetery.
Dad's early childhood was spent in Kansas, years
flavored with the dust of those historic years.
He recalls his mother hanging sheets on the
windows to catch the dirt. A rope was strung
from the house to the barn, to use as a guide to
the barnyard so they wouldn't get lost during
times of low visibility caused by the dark
rolling dust clouds.
In 1936 the Vernon Wedel family moved away from
Copeland, Kansas, traveling with two aunts and
one uncle with their spouses and young families.
The children each had a cousin or two of their
own age to play with enhancing this new venture.
They headed west to California first and then
north to Bonners Ferry, arriving May 9.
This is where they made their new home.
They loved the clean air, yet felt startled at
times when looking up they saw a great hulking
darkness on the horizon. Another dust storm
rolling in? At second glance, they breathed
easier. Just the dark blue mountains rooted to
the earth and not blowing anywhere.
DeWayne grew up in Bonners Ferry. Here an
important choice was made to live his life for
God. He was baptized into the Church of God in
Christ Mennonite. He later supported his
children following the Faith as well.
During the war years he gave service in CCC
Camps in Terry, Montana, and Maryland. Next he
tried logging in Springfield, Oregon, where he
met Eugenia (Jean) Rosin. Their wedding followed
in Missoula, Montana. They had four sons and one
daughter.
To provide a living for his family, he worked
for Pinky McDonald, becoming one of the best cat
skinners around. The booming logging industry
had need of these men for building many roads.
Also he tried his hand at fighting forest fires.
That was hot work of course, but in fall it was
cold at night in the thin sleeping bags
provided. Boughs of tree were cut to try to make
a decent bed. One meal a day was deemed
sufficient provision.
In 1964 Dad decided to move his growing family
from Missoula to Bonners Ferry because he didn't
want them growing up in the city environment.
Our folks took over the Vernon Wedel farmstead,
moving into Grandpa and Grandma Wedel's home
place.
Here there was much hard work to be done on the
dairy. His young sons were given the opportunity
to learn to work hard also. They were given
tools and a wide berth in which to experiment.
This learning by trial and error is seen as an
invaluable gift that left mostly good memories.
He became one of the charter members of the Bee
Line Water Association. His fishing adventures
with family and friends could fill a small book.
He loved to travel, loved the mountains, loved
to take on new adventures.
At age 60, he got his pilot's license, which
widened his horizons considerably.
Dad loved people and had a kind and generous
heart. His children felt the shelter of his love
and care for them and will miss him a lot. They
remember him as giving sound direction when they
sought his advice. The grandchildren were
special to him and he put forth efforts to spend
time with them.
Dad had a stroke in March, 2017. After weeks of
therapy, the children brought him home and cared
for him until the end. Although he had his
struggles in life, his heart was soft and a
change for the better was felt in him during his
last days.
With respect and love his children and extended
family mourn his passing: Deborah Wedel,
Missoula, Montana, Michael Wedel, Douglas Wedel,
Derwin Wedel, all of Bonners Ferry, Rodney and
Marsha Wedel and their two children Mikayla
Wedel and Wyndell Wedel of Tonasket, Washington;
one brother Harold Wedel, two sisters Loretta
and Edwin Dyck, Lois Johnson, all of Bonners
Ferry, one brother-in-law Ronnie Rosin of
Portland, Oregon, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, his
parents, one two-year old sister Laura Lou
Wedel, and one sister-in-law. |
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