Montezuma - Eugene Wedel was born to Simon C. and Susie (Koehn) Wedel on September 5, 1923 in McPherson, Kansas.  He peacefully went to his heavenly home on June 29th, 2017 at the Bethel Home, Montezuma, Kansas.

He was the youngest of four children with two brothers and one sister.  When he was 6 years old, the family moved to Copeland, Kansas to farm.  He received his schooling in the Folsom Country School one mile west of the home place.

Dad gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on February 4, 1938 by Minister Harry Wenger.  Father loved the Lord and was very steady in his faith.

On October 25th, 1942, he married our mother, Matilda Koehn at Copeland, Kansas. They were looking forward to celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary this year.  They were blessed with a family of four daughters and two sons. Our home was a happy, secure place to grow up in. Most of their married life was spent on a farm near Copeland, Kansas. The start of his farming career was together with his brothers and father.  Dad was a hard worker and he enjoyed tilling the soil and bringing in the crops. In their early married days, Dad was called to Civilian Public Service, spending most of his time in Hill City, South Dakota.  In their later years, they also spent a short time in Fort Garland, Colorado.

In November 1963, their oldest daughter, Betty, was taken in a tragic car accident, leaving a vacancy in our home and in Dad's heart.  Then in February of 1964, the church called Dad into the office of the deaconry.  He also served on various boards of the church, filling his place faithfully in the work of the Lord.  Dad carried a deep concern for the church and the spiritual well being of his family.

In his retirement years he loved to work with his flowers and yard and spent many hours with his woodworking hobbies while they lived at Bethel Home.

Those left to cherish precious memories are his dear companion, Tillie; three daughters: Fern Unruh, Phyllis and husband, Clayton Unruh of Copeland,  and Camilla and husband, Ron Nichols of Aliceville, Alabama, two sons:  Richard and wife, Fran of Copeland; Simon and wife, Vicki, of Albertville, Alabama; 15 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren, each knowing they were very special to Grandpa.  Preceding him in death was a daughter and infant grandson, a son-in-law, his parents, two brothers and a sister.

Funeral service will be held at Salem Mennonite Church on Sunday July 2, 2017 at 10:30 AM.  Burial will follow at Salem Mennonite Cemetery.  Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma on Saturday, July 1, 2017 from Noon to 3:00 PM and at the Bethel Home in Montezuma from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.  Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home, Inc in care of the funeral home.  Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.