Gerald A "Jerry" Wiedel

Mass of Christian Burial for Gerald Wiedel will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Orleans, Nebraska with Fathers Jamie Hottovy and Tom Wiedel, serving as concelebrants. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Orleans with Military Honors provided by the Harold Morin American Legion Post # 184 in conjunction with the United States Army Funeral Honors Team.

Gerald Albert "Jerry" Wiedel, 81 years of age, of Alma, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, November 29, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society Colonia Villa in Alma. Gerald was born on April 7, 1935 in rural Hebron, Nebraska to Albert E. and Clara M. (Korte) Wiedel. When he was three years old, the family moved to rural Orleans. He attended primary school at District # 25 Country School and later graduated from Orleans High School with the class of 1954.

Following his education, Gerald was inducted into the United States Army on May 27, 1954 at Omaha, Nebraska. He was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. Gerald was honorably discharged on May 25, 1956 at Fort Lewis, Washington and then served in the Reserve Capacity, for 8 years. He attended one year of college, at the Art Institute in Kansas City, but preferred the rural lifestyle and moved back home, to farm with his dad.

On June 7, 1958, Gerald was united in marriage to Rita Uri at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Orleans. To this union four sons were born: Thomas Lee, Daniel Albert, William Mark and Bradley James. The family made their home on a farm west of Orleans, where Gerald engaged in his lifelong passion of farming.

Gerald enjoyed taxidermy, fishing, arrowhead hunting and trapping. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council # 2373 and the Harold Morin American Legion Post # 184, both of Orleans.

Besides his parents, Gerald was preceded in death by: a brother, Clarence Wiedel.

He leaves to celebrate his life; his wife, Rita of Alma; sons: Father Tom Wiedel of Manley, Nebraska, Dan Wiedel and his wife, Krista of Beatrice, Nebraska, Bill Wiedel and his wife, Denise of rural Orleans and Bradley Wiedel of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; 9 grandchildren: Megan, Brandon, Brooke, Jordon, Elijah, Christian, Hannah, Cecily and Collin; 8 great-grandchildren; brothers: Jerome Wiedel and his wife, Mary Jo, Clifford Wiedel and his wife, Carol and Willis Wiedel and his wife, Anita; sisters: Marjorie Holquin and her husband, Pablo and Rita Bantam and her husband, Tony; a sister-in-law, Ida Wiedel; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends.

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 5, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Orleans with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. A Rosary will be recited at 5:30 p.m. at the church.

A memorial has been established in Gerald's honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.