Wayne L. Westphalen, Sr., 89, Hartley

 

January 13, 2022



A funeral service for Wayne L. Westphalen, Sr. was held Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, at the Hartley Funeral Home Chapel in Hartley. Pastor Lynn Dau officiated.

Pallbearers were Jacob Westphalen, Joshua Westphalen, Michael S. Westphalen, Matthew Westphalen, Lynnae Johannes, Carrie Templeton, Jesse Ahrendsen, Chanel Mansfield, Joseph Overton, Claire Overton and William Overton. Military graveside rites were conducted on Jan. 12 at the Omaha National Veteran Cemetery at Omaha, Neb. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Wayne Leroy Westphalen, Sr. was born Aug. 12, 1932 to Elsie Westphalen in rural Clay County. He spent his childhood years with his maternal grandparents, Fred and Minnie Westphalen. He received his early education at Moneta until the family relocated to Sutherland, where he attended high school.

Wayne enlisted in the United States Coast Guard on Oct. 25, 1952, retiring as a Yeoman 1st Class on Dec. 5, 1972. During his 20-year career he served on the Coast Guard cutters Winnebago, Rockaway and Goldenrod. He was also stationed at bases in Honolulu, Hawaii, Omaha, Neb., St. Louis, Mo., Groton, Conn., New London, Conn., Cape May, N.J., Keokuk, and Brooklyn, N.Y. Wayne was a veteran of the Korean War, earning the Good Conduct Medal with four bronze stars, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.


In 1953, Wayne was united in marriage to Cora Soules at Cherokee. Three children were born to this union: Anthony, Michael and Kathleen. Cora passed away in 1961 and Anthony “Tony” died in 1998.


Wayne married Donna Hansen at Omaha, Neb. in 1968. They had two children together: Wayne, Jr. and James.

Wayne was a 50-plus-year member of the Masons and a current member of the Onyx Lodge in Sanborn. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite and Tangier Shrine in Omaha, Neb. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 9661 in Carter Lake and a member of the Arthur W. Kirchhoff Post #288 in Hartley. He served on the O’Brien County Commission of Veterans Affairs from 1984 to 2018.

On Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, Wayne passed from this life at the age of 89 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Cora; his son, Anthony “Tony”; his mother; grandparents; and mother-in-law, Hazel Hansen.

His memory will be held close in heart by his wife, Donna Westphalen, of Hartley; his children: Kathleen Ahrendsen, of West Des Moines; Michael (Nancy) Westphalen and Wayne (Jennifer) Westphalen, Jr., both of Omaha, Neb.; and James (Sheila) Westphalen, of Muscatine; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two aunts: Arla Rae Westphalen, of Hartley; and Dorothy Johannsen, of Plano, Texas; other relatives and friends.

 
 

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