Obituary for Dean Wenger
Danbury, Iowa - Dean E. Wenger, 90, of Danbury, Iowa passed away Saturday, August 17, 2013, at Maple Heights Nursing Home in Mapleton, Iowa. The funeral service will be Thursday, August 22, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton with Rev. Pastor Scott Jensen officiating. Dean arranged to donate his body to the University of Iowa so burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be at the church Wednesday, August 21 after 4:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Armstrong Funeral Home of Danbury and Mapleton is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences can be directed to the family at www.armstrongfuneral.com. Dean E. Wenger was born August 19, 1922, at the family home near Danbury, Iowa, the son of Frank and Clara (Mehrings) Wenger. Dean called Danbury "home" his entire life. He graduated from Danbury Public High School with the class of 1940 and furthered his education by completing the Business Course at NBT in Sioux City. For 65 years, Dean did taxes for people form all around. He started by doing tax work for local farmers, taking his records and later an adding machine and going to farmers homes at night to complete their taxes. Later he worked with Maurie Welte at Welte Tax Service in Danbury and ventured out on his own, doing taxes out of his iconic trailer house next to his home. He kept up this practice until just five years ago. Dean was a farmer as well, joining his brother, Earl in 1959, in the farming business, Wenger Brothers Partnership. In December of 1973, Dean married Della Plautz and his life changed for the better immediately. Though Dean had done extensive traveling himself over the years, he and Della traveled to almost every state in America that they could get to by car, including a trip to Alaska. They wintered from mid December to mid January for years in Arizona. Della passed away August 6, 2012. Dean was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton. Around the time of Dean's first birthday, his sister, Hilda developed polio and soon Dean was stricken with the devastating disease too. Hilda died of her illness and Dean was left with a marked loss of muscle function causing some lifelong physical issues. However, Dean lived and worked as hard as any farmer did during some hard years, never knowing the meaning of disability! As a result of these facts, Dean decided he would donate his body to the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine upon his death and his wishes are being carried out to the letter. He felt it potentially could help in the study of the effects of polio over a lifetime, a generous deed. Survivors include one brother, Earl Wenger of Danbury, Iowa; several nieces and nephews; and other extended family members along with many good friends. Along with his beloved wife, Della, Dean was preceded in death by his parents; and three sisters, Hilda Wenger, Marie Albertsen, and Helen Pithan; and a sister-in-law, Rosie Wenger.
Service:
Thursday, August 22, 2013 10:30 a.m.
St. Matthew Lutheran Church Mapleton, Iowa
Visitation:
Wednesday, August 21, 2013 After 4:00 p.m. The family present from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
St. Matthew Lutheran Church Mapleton, Iowa
Read More
Service:
Thursday, August 22, 2013 10:30 a.m.
St. Matthew Lutheran Church Mapleton, Iowa
Visitation:
Wednesday, August 21, 2013 After 4:00 p.m. The family present from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
St. Matthew Lutheran Church Mapleton, Iowa
Loading...