Lawrence Joseph Wordekemper

Lawrence Joseph Wordekemper was born at Willey, Iowa, May 28, 1926, the son of Godfrey and Mary Korves Wordekemper. He was raised on the farm north of Vail, Iowa, and received his education in the local rural school.On January 20, 1959, Lawrence was united in marriage with Marie Petersen at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, Iowa. Their union was blessed with the birth of twin sons: Dean and David. They made their home on the Wordekemper family farm where Lawrence’s farming career started in 1938 at age 12 because of his father’s illness and continued until his retirement in 1989. In addition to farming, Lawrence and Marie cared for four of Lawrence’s siblings: Henry, Melvin, Margaret and Bernice, until their deaths. Upon retirement, they moved to Denison, Iowa, where they were faithful members of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.In 2016, Lawrence and Marie moved to Carroll, Iowa, and since September he had resided at Hawkeye Care Center where his death occurred early Saturday, January 28, 2017. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 90 years and 8 months.Including his parents, Lawrence as also preceded in death by an infant son, David, three brothers: Norbert, Henry and Melvin Wordekemper; three sisters: Margaret and Bernice Wordekemper and Helen Langenfeld; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Vernon Rohling, Leo Langenfeld, Earl and Lucile Foster and Merlin and Ruth Maack.Those remaining to cherish his memory include his wife, Marie Wordekemper of Carroll, Iowa; one son, Dean (Lisa) Wordekemper of Carroll, Iowa; four grandchildren: Jacob (Haley) Wordekemper of Larchwood, Iowa, Caitlin Wordekemper of Des Moines, Iowa, Hannah Wordekemper of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Megan Wordekemper of Omaha, Nebraska; three great-grandchildren: Noah, Amelia and Delaney Wordekemper of Larchwood, Iowa, one sister: Alice Rohling of Storm Lake, Iowa; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bernhard and Marilyn Petersen of Schleswig, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Denison, Iowa, with Father Tim Boekelman as Celebrant. Others participating in the mass included Altar Servers: Michael Collins and Brody Scheuring; Lector: Doug Lenz; Gift Bearers: Megan and Caitlin Wordekemper; and Eucharistic Ministers: Jeff Fitzsimmons and Jerry and Sara Wordekemper. Music for the mass was provided by St. Rose of Lima Adult Choir singing “On Eagle’s Wings”, “How Great Thou Art”, “Amazing Grace My Chains Are Gone” and “Precious Lord Take My Hand” with Jean Cornelius as accompanist. Pallbearers included: Donald Maack, Duane Maack, Roger Petersen, George Langenfeld, Jeff Fitzsimmons and Dan Berger. Interment was at St. Ann Catholic Cemetery, Vail, Iowa. Following the interment all were invited to St. Rose Parish Center in Denison for fellowship and a luncheon provided and served by St. Rose of Lima Ladies Guild and Staley’s Catering.Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of arrangements where online condolences may be left at www.pfannebecker.com.A visitation was held on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary being prayed at 4:00 p.m. and a Parish Vigil Service, led by Father Tim Boekelmen, at 6:00 p.m.