Wedel, Alfred (1889-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Jan 31 p. 8

Birth date: 1889 Apr 4

text of obituary:

ALFRED WEDEL

Alfred Wedel, a pioneer in the Aberdeen, Idaho, community, passed away at the Schiltz Memorial Hospital, American Falls, at 11:45 p.m. on Friday, December 7, following a heart attack which he suffered on Tuesday, Dec. 4. He attained the age of 67 years and about eight months.

He was born April 4, 1889, in Pawnee Rock, Kansas, a son of Elizabeth Unruh and Jacob Wedel. He attended school as a youth in Kansas and was graduated from the academy at Bethel College near Newton, Kansas.

In 1907 he came with his parents to Aberdeen where he engaged in farming for a short time. His father built one of the first stores in Aberdeen, a grocery and general merchandise store, the Valley Supply company.

Alfred enrolled at the University of Idaho, Moscow, and in 1911 came home to take over the management of the store. He maintained the business until his death.

In June 1919, he married Lyda [sic Lydia] Leisy in Oakland, Calif. He was an active member of the First Mennonite Church of Aberdeen, being secretary of the church at one time, and a Sunday school teacher for a number of years.

He was a member of the Rotary Club, past president and secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, and at the time of death was secretary-treasurer of the Pioneer Ditch Company. he was also quite active in boy Scout work.

Survivors include his wife Lydia; three sons, Delmar, a student counsellor of the Y.m.C.A. in Tokyo, Japan, Harold, a staff member in the child guidance clinic in Dalls, Texas, and Willis, working on his Master's Degree in business administration at the University of California at Berkley [sic Berkeley]; two brothers, Frank of Pocotello and Lincoln of Washington, D.C.; three sisters, Mrs. Ed. Moser, Mrs. Henry Tiahrt and Mrs. Mae Polhemns, all of Aberdeen, and four grandchildren.

We as a family would like to pay some tribute to our dear husband and father, who has lived in this community so long and where he has served the public so willingly and faithfully. He has done this sometimes beyond his own strength with never a word of complaint. We know that his life has been enriched through being able to serve his community.

We boys will always remember our father as a kind and generous person who has provided for us a quiet example in the Spirit of Christ. His generosity with time and possessions, even beyond his ability, was exceeded only by his art, in giving a word of advice and encouragement at a time when it was needed. He could provide humor when things seemed dark. Our dad was our companion, counselor, and inspiration.

— The Family.