Willis J. Kahl

Willis J. Kahl, 88, of Wakefield, Nebraska died on Friday, November 14, 2014 at the Wakefield Assisted Living in Wakefield, Nebraska. Funeral services for Willis will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Emerson; Pastor Gretchen Ritola will be officiating. The visitation will be held on Thursday morning at 9:00 and will run until the time of the funeral at the church. Burial with military honors will be held in the Wakefield Cemetery in Wakefield, Nebraska. Memorials are suggested to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. Bressler – Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home of Wakefield is in charge of the arrangements. Willis was born on June 10, 1926 in Sioux City, IA, the son of Willie and Rosa (Hoeck) Kahl. He grew up near Emerson, Nebraska, graduating from Emerson High School. Following school, Willis served in the United States Army during WW II. He was united in marriage to Evelyn Wennekamp on June 27, 1948. To this union four children were born: Dennis, Cheryl, Randy and Brent. The couple farmed near Wakefield. Later Willis worked for the Morrison Quirk Dehy Plant near Bancroft. They moved into Wakefield in 1995. In 2013, Willis moved into the Wakefield Assisted Living. He was active in the Pops Partner 4-H Club, serving as a leader for several years. He also served on the Dixon County Fair Board, the Wakefield Hospital Planning Board, and the Livestock Feeders and Pork Feeders. Willis was a member of the Emerson American Legion and was an active member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church serving on the Church Council and as a Sunday School teacher. He also was a set builder for the Little Red Hen Theater in Wakefield. Willis is survived by his wife Evelyn of Wakefield, NE, sons: Dennis (Nancy) Kahl of Seward, NE, Randy (Vicky) Kahl of Rancho Viejo, TX and Brent (Tatiana) Kahl of Indianapolis, IN and a daughter Cheryl (Warren) Johnson of Omaha, NE. He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Erma Jahn.