Kenneth Calvin Waddell

Kenneth Calvin Waddell

Aug. 2, 1925 - July 30, 2016

McCOOK, Neb. -- Kenneth Calvin Waddell of McCook, age 90, passed away Saturday, July 30, 2016, at Community Hospital after a long illness.

Kenneth was the fourth child born to parents, Lee A. and Jessie (Staats) Waddell on Aug. 2, 1925, in Freedom, Neb. He was raised on a farm north of Indianola and graduated from Havana High School in 1941. His whole class was a total of six boys.

Kenneth loved to talk of their trips to California and living with his sister, Marie, where he took welding classes that he enjoyed and used for much of his life.

In 1945 he entered the Army and remarked of his experience as being unique in a couple of ways. "First of all, I was never issued a dress uniform. Second, I was discharged on Christmas Day. I was inducted March 6, 1945, at Fort Logan, Colorado. From there to Camp Maxy, Texas for infantry training. From there to Cheyenne, Wyoming for QMC training. Part of this group went to the Pacific and the rest were sent to the Persian Gulf Command at Khorramshahr, Iran. Soon after our arrival, the Tehran Conference was held. We had the honor of marching before Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin. The Army had to evacuate Iran by Jan. 1, 1946, so 300 of us were made civilians on Christmas Day, but remained to keep the Abadan Air Base open to refuel planes and etc., coming back from India and China to Cairo, Egypt. We worked for T.W.A. and our checks were signed by Howard Hughes. There's no place like the U.S.A. and home. On my discharge it reads: Reason: Convenience of the Government and War." He was honorably discharged on Dec. 25, 1945.

On May 18, 1952, he was united in marriage to Janice (Lawrence) Eisenbarth at the Methodist Church in McCook. To this union three sons were born. They made their home on a farm near Indianola.

While living in Indianola, Kenneth was active with the Coop Board, Rural Fire Board and helping his boys with 4-H calves and horses. Kenneth was a 50-year member of McCook Elks and Memorial United Methodist Church.

Kenneth loved to travel and worked for Moss Sales and Service out of Salina, Kan., for 13 years, selling fertilizer equipment.

Preceding him in death were his parents; son, Timothy Waddell; daughter-in-law, Cindy (Hackney) Waddell; sister, Marie Smuskiewicz; sister-in-law, Frances Waddell; and two great-granddaughters, Shyanne and Piper Waddell.

Survivors include his wife, Janice Waddell of McCook; sons, Kendall and Larry Waddell, both of McCook; daughter-in-law, Trudy Waddell Hoffman; sister, Hazel Bielby of Pacific Grove, California; brother, James Waddell of McCook; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Memorials may be given in his name.

Memorial services will be Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, 11 a.m. at Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook. Inurnment will be at Fort McPherson National Cemetery at a later date. Friends may express their condolences to the family at www.herrmannfh.com

Herrmann - Jones Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.