A detailed story about Robert can be found in a multi-series feature on this web page.
Robert Wegner feature
2005 information
Robert was inducted into the U.S. Army on November 17, 1950. He took his basic and weapons training at Fort Leonard, Missouri. He served in Korea from
March 1951 to March 1952. While in Korea he was a gunman in a heavy weapon's company of the 2nd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Division.
He received the Combat Infantry Badge, Korean Service Medal, one Bronze Star, the United Nations Service Medal, Overseas Bar and the 50th Anniversary
Commemorative Medal. Pfc. Wegner was discharged in August 1952 from Camp Carson, Colorado. He is a member of the VFW and American Legion.
Robert notes that the 2nd Battalion has a reunion each year.
Visitation Friday
December 27, 2013, 4:00 - 7:30 p.m. Ohde Funeral Home, Manning
Visitation will resume Saturday
morning at 9:00 a.m. at church
Funeral Service Saturday December
28, 2013, 10:30 a.m. Zion Lutheran Church, Manning
Interment will follow at Manning Cemetery
Reverend Jonathan Conner, Officiating
Music "Amazing Grace" "Silent
Night" "How Great Thou Art" Congregation
Carlys Stribe, Accompanist
Casket Bearers: Lukas Snyder, Sam
Wegner, Kacy Snyder, Chris Snyder, Roger Wegner, Lynn
Stein, Karl Albertsen, Gary Odendahl
Interment with Military Honors
American Legion Post 22 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3517
Manning Cemetery, Manning
THE FAMILY WISHES TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR KINDNESS EVIDENCED IN
THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED AND INVITES YOU TO JOIN THEM FOR LUNCH AND FELLOWSHIP AT
THE CHURCH FOLLOWING THE INTERMENT.
Robert Dean, son of Edwin "Brownie" and Lolida (Schroeder) Wegner, was born August 16, 1928, at St Anthony Hospital in Carroll, Iowa. Bob graduated from Manning High School with the Class of 1947, and attended Iowa State University until he was called to military duty. Bob was inducted into the U.S. Army in November of 1950. He took basic and weapons training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, then served in Korea as a gunman in a heavy weapons company of the 2nd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Division. Bob received many medals honoring his service, including the Bronze Star, prior to his honorable discharge at Camp Carson, Colorado, in August of 1952.
On January 10, 1960, Bob was united in marriage with Shirley Hansen at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. Seven children were born to this union and raised on the farm 1 mile west, 1 mile south and 1/4 mile west of Manning. Bob started farming the home place after the death of his father Edwin, farming the same ground in Crawford County since 1946. He and Shirley farmed and lived together there until retiring from farming in 1994. Through the years he worked as a rural mail carrier in Manning and Glidden, both part-time and full-time, until retiring in 1997. He also worked for Aspinwall Co-Op's anhydrous service. Bob served on the Manning School Board in the 1980's and was an active member of the Manning V.F.W. (Past Commander) and American Legion posts. He always had a smile on his face, and enjoyed spending time with friends and family. He took many trips with his long-time fishing friends to Gene & Gayle's Resort in Minnesota. Through the years, Bob participated in a card club, belonged to the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, and enjoyed getting together with his Korean War comrades at reunions, which he hosted twice in Des Moines.
Shirley passed away on December 26, 1994, from cancer. After her death Bob remained at home on the farm, helping Tom with the farming operation at the home place and the Hansen-Wegner Century Farm. He enjoyed spending time with his friends at coffee at Deb's Corner Cafe and Rix's Station, and socializing with friends at the V.F.W.
Following a short illness, Bob died suddenly and unexpectedly on Monday, December 23, 2013. He was 85 years, 4 months and 7 days of age.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; wife Shirley Wegner; and sister-in-law Arlene Wegner.
He is survived by his children: Debra Snyder (John), Carroll; Tom Wegner, Manning; David Wegner (Beth), West Des Moines; Nancy Tunender (Dale), Norwalk; Dale Wegner, Sac City; Bruce Wegner (Anne), Urbandale; Kyle Wegner (Stacey), Norwalk; special friend Doris Witt, Manning; 12 grandchildren: Melissa Snyder (Chris), Ankeny; Lukas Snyder, W. Des Moines; Kacy Snyder, Carroll; Sam Wegner, West Des Moines; Emily, Abby & Cole Tunender, Norwalk; Grayson & Hannah Wegner, Urbandale; Tyler, Jacob & Ava Wegner, Norwalk; 2 great-grandchildren, Bradyn and Kade Snyder; brothers Duane Wegner of Manning and Allen Wegner (Joyce) of Virginia; in-laws: Herbert Hansen (Gloria), Brayton; Lyle Hansen (Lois), Denison; Larry Hansen (Leona), Manning; Helen Mading (Glen), Elgin, Illinois; Marjorie Wade (Bob), Mesa, Arizona; other relatives and friends.