Williams, Wendell 'Wendy'

Wendell “Wendy” Williams, 86, died Thursday, April 29, 2010, at West Ridge Care Center in Cedar Rapids following an extended illness. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 4, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins, with the Rev. Douglas Woltemath officiating. Interment will be at St. Stephen's Cemetery near Atkins, with graveside military rites conducted by Adolp H. Schueler American Legion Post 217 of Atkins and SSG Peter Moeller of the Iowa Military Funeral Honors. Public visitation also will be held at the church from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday.

Wendell was born Nov. 9, 1923, at Portland, Ind., to Wave and Georgina (Beard) Williams. During World War II, he served his nation in the U.S. Army and was an American Legion member in Atkins. On June 24, 1948, he was united in marriage to Doris Rammelsberg in Atkins. “Wendy” was a member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins, a charter member of the John Deere 2 Cylinder Club of East Central Iowa and the Hawkeye Antique Tractor Pulling Association. Wendy farmed and was a truck driver for CRST.

He is survived by his wife, Doris of Atkins; his sons, Bill (Vicki) Williams of Albert Lea, Minn., Jim (Sandy) Williams of Atkins, Chuck (Val) Williams of Walker and Dennis Williams of Atkins; his daughters, Linda (Ralph) Root of Aurora, Colo., and Sherri Peters of Reno, Nev.; 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and five sisters, Wanda Muck of Cedar Rapids, Marceil (Max) Kimm of Blairstown, Judy Gibney of Fairfax, Shirley (Bob) Bennett of Terre Hoyt, Ind., and Sondra (John) White of Davenport.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Robert; and his sister, Juanita Zeller.

Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton is in charge of arrangements.

A special thank you goes to Dr. Bell and Susan with St. Luke's Hospice for their special care.

Condolences may be left at

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.