64593_Wendell V._Green
MASON CITY | Wendell V. “Pat” Green, 94, of Mason City passed away Sunday, October 20, 2013, at Heritage Care Center.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 23, 2013, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with the Rev. Steve Hansen, Grace United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Wendell V. Green Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.
Wendell was the second of three sons born May 13, 1919, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the son of Alvin and Lillian (Durland) Green. He attended school in Sioux Falls and as a youngster moved to the farm of foster parents Emmett “Gage” and Elizabeth Riley of DeSmet, South Dakota. He moved to Stanhope, Iowa, in 1935.
Wendell married Ruby Marie Walters August 31, 1940 in Unionville, Missouri. The couple made their home in Story City, Iowa, where Wendell was employed at Williams Elevator. He entered the US Navy in May of 1945 and after his training at Great Lakes, Illinois, he sailed to Okinawa, Japan, aboard the USS Cahaba. He was there at the end of the battle for the island. He left Okinawa sailing across the South China Sea to the Port of Amoy China. He left China and crossed the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal back to the United States, returning home to Mason City in May of 1946.
Four children were born to Wendell and Ruby, two sons and two daughters. Wendell was a dedicated shift supervisor at Northwestern States Portland Cement Company in Mason City until his retirement in 1984. For some years, he was also self-employed in delivering clay tile to Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois farms. He was later employed by Plagge Truck Line, Mason City.
Fishing was among Wendell’s favorite pastimes, the highlight of which were two trips to Canada. For several years after retirement, he did upholstery work in his home-based shop. He also enjoyed gardening and working in his yard. He was an avid reader on many subjects, his favorites being politics and watching the stock market.
At the age of 82, he purchased a home computer and learned how to send and receive e-mail and surf the web.
Wendell was a member of the American Legion since 1947.
Wendell is survived by his two sons, John (Maxine) of Mason City, Joe of Des Moines; two daughters, Annette and Nancy of Mason City; grandchildren, Jeff, Tony, January and Heath; great-grandchildren, Jason, Pete, Jordan, Jade, Jacob, Leah, Jessica, Heather, Scott, Elizabeth, Hunter, Cierra and Piper; eight great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Marjorie Turner of Chino Hills, California; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Alvin and Gerald; wife, Ruby; and two grandchildren, Hans and Lee.
Major Erickson Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City, Iowa 50401. 641-423-0924.