Kenneth I. Wiedenfeld

Kenneth Irvin  Wiedenfeld age 82 of Hickman, Nebraska and formerly of Hartington, died on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at his residence in Hickman.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hartington with the Rev. Owen Korte officiating. Burial will be at the Hartington City Cemetery with military honors by theHartington VFW Post #5283 and the Legion Riders. Visitation will be on Tuesday, at church, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington.

Pallbearers will be Dane Boeckman, Bob Burke, Matt Topf, Greg Topf, Brent Dewald, and Charlie Holm.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Wiedenfeld, Mark Wiedenfeld, Ken Guenther, Jack Wyant, Gary Olsen, Tim Lund, Ray Kneifl, and Jason Slama.

  Kenneth Irvin was born to Irvin & Grace (Tesdall) Wiedenfeld on December 21, 1941 in Yankton, SD. Kenny grew up on the farm homesteaded by the Wiedenfeld family in rural Dixon County, Nebraska. He attended Grand Ridge country school through the 8th grade, and graduated from Hartington Public High School in 1959. During high school he was involved in football, track, band and chorus. He also worked part time at Stolpe Service Station and assisted his father on the farm. After graduation he worked for the State of Nebraska doing road and bridge maintenance.

 In the fall of 1960, he attended Automation Institute in Omaha for the operation of IBM data processing equipment. For a short time after graduation from AI, he was employed by Central Nebraska Insurance Company of Omaha. In late 1961, he began working for the State Hospital in Yankton doing data processing. During this employment, he acquired a part-time sales job with S&T TV & Appliance/Mobile Homes of Yankton.

 Kenneth married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Mary Ann Yonke, on August 11, 1962, in Laurel, NE. He began full-time employment for S&T shortly after their marriage and continued until entering the United States Army in February, 1966. After basic training in Ft. Leonard, MO, he attended advanced IBM schooling in Indianapolis, IN, then received orders to be a computer operator, and later a supervisor, for the Army Operations Center at the Pentagon.

 During his tour at the Pentagon, Kenneth & Mary Ann became the proud parents of Dawn Patricia on September 15, 1968. Kenneth received an honorable discharge from the Army in February, 1969, as a Specialist Grade 6 (Staff Sargent). He returned to employment with S&T as an office manager and accountant for their locations in Yankton, Sioux Falls & Mitchell. After the sale of S&T in late 1970, the family moved to Slayton, MN and opened a manufactured home retail sales and service business.

 In the fall of 1976, they sold the business and Kenneth began employment with Moduline Homes in Montevideo, MN, as a regional manager. In 1981, he began a career working in the replacement window and door industry, working in sales and corporate training. The family relocated to Hickman, NE, in the fall of 1983, where Kenneth & Mary lived out the remainder of their lives.  In 2008 he transferred to Architectural Testing Institute, where he performed manufacturing test audits.

 After 53 years of marriage, he sadly lost Mary on May 17, 2016 at the age of 72 years. He continued working part time, but fully retired in 2018. Throughout his life he loved hunting and fishing, as well as spending time with family. He also enjoyed watching NASCAR races, and of course, Nebraska football.

 Kenneth is survived by daughter, Dawn (Brad) Boeckman of Lincoln, NE; grandson, Dane Boeckman (Lakyn Mueller) and 6 great-grandchildren of Springfield, SD; 2 sisters, Kathy (Charles) Burke of Pierre, SD and Marilyn (Larry) Topf of Sloan, IA; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and close friend, Sandra Rosecrans of Princeton, NE. 

 He was preceded in death by his wife and parents.

Memorials can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in lieu of flowers.