Fred Wessendorf Obituary - Johnston, IA | Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

Fred Wessendorf (93), formerly Des Moines, died on Thursday, December 24, 2020 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Fred was born on October 5, 1927 in Stormy Lake, Iowa, William H. and Alice (Minglin) Wessendorf (Aslice (Minglin) Wessendorf). He graduated from Nemaha High School and enlisted in the US Army. He worked as a personnel specialist at the battalion headquarters of the 65th Engineer Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division in Japan.

Fred studied at Buena Vista University in 1948 and graduated in June 1951. He worked on the debate team for three full years. In 1956, he received a master's degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He did other graduate work at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.

When Fred was studying at Buena Vista University, he married Donna Joan Stock of Lakeview City, Iowa. The wedding was held at Peace Lutheran Church in Lake Wal, Iowa. They have four children

Fred and Donna started teaching in Cornell, Iowa in the fall of 1951. Donna taught first and second grades, Fred taught English and business courses, and also taught boys and girls high school basketball, baseball, speech team and orientation school games. In 1954, Fred became the principal of the high school in Dolever, Iowa. From there they moved to Fenton, Iowa, where Fred directed middle school sports and taught science classes. Then they moved to Jordan, Iowa, where Fred was the principal of high school.

In 1958, Fred accepted a job as a director in Rake, Iowa. From 1962 to 1966, he was the principal of Sheffield, Iowa, and then moved to Strawberry Point to serve as the principal of Starmont Community School. In 1969, Fred assumed the post of Director of Commercial Affairs at Cedar Falls Community School.

Fred and Donna moved to West Des Moines in 1989, when Fred accepted the position of Field Service Director of the Iowa Association of School Boards. He has worked with many school boards in a director search of local school boards, a chief administrative officer search of regional educational institutions, and a presidential search of community colleges in Iowa. Fred retired in 1998.

During his career, Fred has served on many boards and committees and has been a member of multiple organizations. Members include: Chamber of Commerce (Legislative Committee), Lutheran Church (Head of Sunday School, Conference Representative, Building Committee and Remote Planning Committee), Boy Scouts of America (Regional Committee), Rotary International (Club Secretary, Paul Harris Fee) Luo), Lions Club (Club Secretary), Des Moines K Kiwanis Club (Club Chairman, Kiwanis Regional Outstanding President Award, several committees). In 2013, Fred served as a lieutenant in the 16th division of Kiwanis for two terms. He won the Outstanding Lieutenant Governor Award of Kiwanis District. He is also a Kiwanis Walter Zeller researcher. Fred’s other members include the International School Operations Officer Association (Board of Directors), the Iowa School Board Officer Association (State President), the American Association of School Administrators (Representative of the Iowa Regional Planning Committee), and the National Rural Education Department ( Governor of Iowa), National Council of Directors, Regional Representative of the US Office of Education Accounting Manual Second Edition Committee (revised), Phi Delta Kappa, Urbandale American Veterans Association 663 and Chairman of the ARMS Association.

Fred is survived by his children, Chris Wessendorf of Sacramento, California; Tom (Provi) Wessendorf of Chicago, Illinois; and Nancy of Wichita, Kansas. Mike) Holt; and Beth Galles of Cedar Falls, Iowa. His grandsons Amy, Sarah, Jason, Daniel, Jeremy, Jordan, Cole, and Sydney; great-great-grandson, Abby, Noah, Jacob, Joshua, Isabel, Caitlin, Medilin, Ethan, Lillian, Grayson and Hayes Frederick; and his brother Bill (Grace) Weisendorf of Newell, Iowa.

Fred (Fred) and his wife Donna (Donna) passed away in 1987 and brother George (George) on December 18, 2017.

Donations can be made to the Faith Lutheran Church or the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. Please extend your condolences and donations to Nancy Holt 13902 W Westport Ct. Wichita KS 67235.

The Private Family Service will be held at the Faith Lutheran Church at 10395 Clive University Avenue, Iowa, at 11 am on Thursday, January 7, 2021. The service will be broadcast live on Fred’s s page:

. The funeral will be held at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Mitte, Iowa.

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