Whitford, Wendell

Wendell Whitford, 67, of North Liberty, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, at Mercy Iowa City.

Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City, with the Rev. Samuel Massey officiating. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall of the church and everyone is welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Wendell's memory to First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City, Iowa City Chamber Singers, or the Friends of the Boundary Waters. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the Web at

Floyd Wendell Whitford Jr. was born Jan. 10, 1943, in Fort Bragg, N.C., to Floyd Wendell Whitford Sr. and Jewel (Gragg) Whitford. The family moved to West Union, Iowa, where he was raised and completed high school. He graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, with a teaching degree. On Dec. 28, 1968, Wendell was united in marriage to Judy McConnell in Osceola, Iowa. The couple raised their family in Cedar Rapids where Wendell was an Industrial Arts Instructor at Franklin Junior High School for many years, until accepting a similar position at Moorhead High School in Minnesota. While living in Minnesota, Wendell and Judy owned Isleview Resort on South Lida Lake. After teaching for 36 years, he retired in 2002. At that time he and Judy returned to Eastern Iowa to join his son in rebuilding their house.

Wendell was an active member of First Presbyterian Church and the Iowa City Chamber Singers. He was an avid outdoorsman and craftsman who traveled to the boundary waters with family and friends over 20 times, sharing his enthusiasm for life's details at every turn.

His family includes his wife, Judy; son Brien and his wife, Jennifer; their children, Savannah, Brookelyn, Kennedey and Charleigh; daughter. Cara Whitford and her husband, Mason Gordon; their children, Olivia and Eliza; Wendell's siblings, Jo Griffith, Clark Whitford (Ebby), and Mary Wickstrom (Russell); stepsister, Wanda Whitford (Don); and stepbrothers, Stan Shaffer (Sharon), Dennis Shaffer (Anita), and Jon Shaffer (Vera).

Wendell was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother, Clara Whitford.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Wendell's family and his services.