Delores M. Wendell

September 29, 1927 - May 17, 2018

Delores M. Wendell, 90, of Axtell, Nebraska passed away May 17, 2018 at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney. Celebration of Life services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Keene Evangelical Free Church with the Reverend Matthew Snell officiating. Private family interment will be held prior to services at the Keene Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 with the family present at the Craig Funeral Home in Minden. Memorials are suggested to Keene Evangelical Free Church. Delores Marian Gustafson was born on September 29, 1927 in Hamilton County, Nebraska to Benjamin and Myrtle (Pearson) Gustafson. She grew up in Hamilton County and attended District 59. After graduating from Phillips High School, she received her teaching certificate from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and returned to teach country school at District 59. During this time she met her future husband Rodney Wendell. They were united in marriage on June 12, 1952 at the Monroe Evangelical Free Church in Phillips, Nebraska. They made their home in Keene, Nebraska where she loved sharing her gift of hospitality with family, friends, church and community. She worked for Liebers and Stumbo, Minden Long Term Care, and as an administrative assistant at Bethpage Mission (Mosaic). She was an active member of the Keene Evangelical Free Church where she served in many capacities, Evangelical Free Church Women’s Ministries locally and nationally. She was active in Christian Women’s Clubs in Holdrege, Kearney and as an Area Representative, Holdrege Swedish Club and Axtell Women’s Club. She loved spending time with her family and supporting and attending her husband and her family’s activities. She is survived by her husband, Rodney Wendell; her daughters, Andrea Wheeler and husband, Jerry; Celeste Wells; Stephanie Anderson and husband Tom. Grandchildren include: Matthew Wells (Sara); Michelle Wells Jura (Dusty); Jon Anderson; Marcus Anderson (Brittney); Mitchell (Paige) Anderson; Ryan (Madeline) Anderson; Jerrod Wheeler. Nine great-grandchildren include: Nolan, Adelyn and Harrison Wells; Jack and Caroline Anderson; Eva and Jude Jura; Vanna and Jay Anderson. Delores was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Stan Gustafson, Anna Gustafson, Eugene Gustafson and son-in-law, Scott Wells. Tributes of memory can be shared with the family at craigfunerals.com Craig Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.