Wendell W. Zabel

Wendell Wayne Zabel was born to Homer and Laura (Schwisow) Zabel on February 11,1925 nearPlymouth , Nebraska . He passed away on December 10, 2011, at Blue Valley Lutheran Nursing Home in Hebron , at the age of 86 years. He was baptized at a rural Lutheran Church near Plymouth on March 22, 1925. He attended rural public school in Jefferson County and was confirmed at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church near Daykin. Wendell graduated from Western High School in 1943 and afterward farmed for several local farmers during World War II.In June 1945 he enlisted in the Army where he served state side in the mechanized Calvary and the 716 ^th military police with a medical hardship.He was honorably discharged in November 1946. Wendell then entered Fairbury Jr. College and worked for J.C. Penney in Fairbury until 1952. During this time he met and married Arla L. Shultz of Fairbury on June 1, 1949. Also he joined the Methodist Church . Two daughters Debra and Christine were born to this union. In 1953, they started farming near Western and in 1961 they moved to a farm between Edgar-Ong and Davenport . In 1985 they moved to Davenport where they retired in 1988. In 2009 they moved to Courtyard Terrace in Hebron . In his retirement years they traveled with their trailer; went to many local ball games and music events; and worked in his community. He was a member of the Ong School Board; Ong Cooperative Board; United Methodist Church Board in Ong and Davenport ; life member of Davenport American Legion; Davenport Lily Lodge and Eastern Star; and Davenport Achievement Board. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Richard Zabel; brothers-in-law, Charles Sukovaty and Charles Shultz. He is survived by his wife, Arla of Hebron; daughters, Debra (Phil) Johnson of Davenport and Christine (Roger) Fehr of Edgar; grandchildren: Tracy (Derek) Anderson of Wayne; Daniel Johnson of Hebron; Anthony (Rachel) Fehr of St. Charles, MO; and Brian Fehr of Omaha; great-grandchildren: Dylan, Adrienne and Gavin Anderson; and Darin Fehr. He is also survived by his sister, Lois Sukovaty of Phoenix , AZ ; sisters-in-law Marian Wittler of Loveland , CO ; Wanda Shultz and Jean Zabel of Fairbury.Also many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.