Wendell Leroy Argotsinger
January 28, 1928 — July 18, 2022
Wendell Leroy Argotsinger was born on a farm near Dow City in Crawford County, Iowa on January 28, 1928 the son of Orville Guy Argotsinger and Gertrude (Bramley) Argotsinger. At about 5 years of age he moved with his parents and two sisters to a farm at the edge of Deloit, Iowa where he grew up. Wendell received his education in Deloit graduating with the class of 1946 with four other classmates.
There was a unique twist of fate that impacted Wendell’s life. On August 6, 1945 when he was 17 years old and before he finished school his aunt Coral had agreed to take him and his cousin Dick Weis to the military recruiter in Carroll to enlist but the station was closed that day. As they were returning from Carroll they heard on the car radio that the United States had just dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan. Not knowing what that might mean they waited until the following June to enlist.
On June 30, 1946 Wendell enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving with the Seabees CBMU 546 on the Island of Samar, Philippines and C.B.D. 1513 Sangley Point, Philippines until his discharge on April 30, 1948. He reached the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer and awarded the Victory Medal World War II.
Upon discharge Wendell returned to Deloit and joined his father in the farming operation until the following March. On March 30, 1949 he was united in Marriage to Marilyn Beth (Winey) in Maryville, Missouri. Their union was blessed with two sons, Terry and Dean.
They moved to a farm east of Deloit for one season and then to the E.A. Norelius farm south of Kiron, Iowa. It was a busy farm with cows to milk, feeder cattle, hogs to farrow and chickens to harvest eggs and butcher. There was always one more thing left to do at the end of the day. In 1966 they purchased their farm north of Denison where he continued his lifelong career of farming until retirement in 1993.
Except for the time in the military Wendell spent his entire life in Crawford County and became deeply enrooted in promoting agriculture and the way of life in the county. He was a strong supporter of the Farm Bureau serving in many capacities, the Crawford County Fair Board and as a Dekalb seed corn dealer. In the early years he supported the Farmer’s Wives Club that was popular at the time. He could be found being catcher for “Gus” on the Kiron softball team or enjoying the new sport of tractor pulling with his 1951 “A” John Deere. Many will remember his trips to Kiron with eggs to sell in his old red 1949 Chevy truck with “Shorty” on the seat beside him.
Wendell was active politically and promoted what he thought was the “right thing” to do. The first example was his efforts to consolidate the Kiron, Deloit and Denison School Districts. One of the first districts to do so in the state.
His willingness to help anyone at any moment will be remembered by many people whether it was to put out a fire or a picking bee to help a neighbor. His quick wit and teasing humor were always on display, especially at the round table at Cronk’s Café. He and Marilyn enjoyed playing pinochle with the Kiron crowd, nights out with live music at the Jo-Mart in Denison and in later years traveling the U.S. with friends seeing the sights.
After retirement Wendell followed six grandchildren to their many school activities. He could always be found at the Denison High School sports events. He also began a new hobby of antique tractor rides until he was 90 years old accumulating well over 10,000 miles on his Ford tractor taking pride in touching 11 states including a trip over the 5 mile long Mackinaw Bridge.
Wendell died Monday morning July 18, 2022 at his apartment in Silver Ridge Assisted Living in Denison, Iowa at the age of 94 years, 5 months, and 20 days.
Wendell was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn and one sister Beverly (Argotsinger) Dumdei and husband Merle. brother-in-law Kay Winey and wife Delores Colleen; brother-in-law Roland Talcott.
Those remaining to cherish his memory include his two sons Terry Argotsinger and wife Barbara of Storm Lake, Iowa; Dean Argotsinger and wife Beth of Denison, Iowa; sister Vera (Argotsinger) Talcott of Omaha, NE; sister-in-law Barbara (Winey) Willey and husband John of Waterville, Maine; brother-in-law Jim Winey and wife Karen of North Oaks, Minnesota; six grandchildren; Kimberly Juhl and husband Randy of Spicer, Minnesota, Corinne Mattson and husband Travis of Ames, Iowa, Katy Fassnacht and husband Eric of Overland Park, Kansas, Eric Argotsinger and wife Terri of Ankeny, Iowa, Lori Jones and husband Brian of Westminster, Colorado and Keri Zimmer and husband Aric of Underwood, Iowa; eleven great grandchildren; Alex, Ellie, Owen, Connor, Quinton, Griffin, Nora, Abel, Clara, Ethan and Max; nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Brushy Creek Honor Flight.
There was a unique twist of fate that impacted Wendell’s life. On August 6, 1945 when he was 17 years old and before he finished school his aunt Coral had agreed to take him and his cousin Dick Weis to the military recruiter in Carroll to enlist but the station was closed that day. As they were returning from Carroll they heard on the car radio that the United States had just dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan. Not knowing what that might mean they waited until the following June to enlist.
On June 30, 1946 Wendell enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving with the Seabees CBMU 546 on the Island of Samar, Philippines and C.B.D. 1513 Sangley Point, Philippines until his discharge on April 30, 1948. He reached the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer and awarded the Victory Medal World War II.
Upon discharge Wendell returned to Deloit and joined his father in the farming operation until the following March. On March 30, 1949 he was united in Marriage to Marilyn Beth (Winey) in Maryville, Missouri. Their union was blessed with two sons, Terry and Dean.
They moved to a farm east of Deloit for one season and then to the E.A. Norelius farm south of Kiron, Iowa. It was a busy farm with cows to milk, feeder cattle, hogs to farrow and chickens to harvest eggs and butcher. There was always one more thing left to do at the end of the day. In 1966 they purchased their farm north of Denison where he continued his lifelong career of farming until retirement in 1993.
Except for the time in the military Wendell spent his entire life in Crawford County and became deeply enrooted in promoting agriculture and the way of life in the county. He was a strong supporter of the Farm Bureau serving in many capacities, the Crawford County Fair Board and as a Dekalb seed corn dealer. In the early years he supported the Farmer’s Wives Club that was popular at the time. He could be found being catcher for “Gus” on the Kiron softball team or enjoying the new sport of tractor pulling with his 1951 “A” John Deere. Many will remember his trips to Kiron with eggs to sell in his old red 1949 Chevy truck with “Shorty” on the seat beside him.
Wendell was active politically and promoted what he thought was the “right thing” to do. The first example was his efforts to consolidate the Kiron, Deloit and Denison School Districts. One of the first districts to do so in the state.
His willingness to help anyone at any moment will be remembered by many people whether it was to put out a fire or a picking bee to help a neighbor. His quick wit and teasing humor were always on display, especially at the round table at Cronk’s Café. He and Marilyn enjoyed playing pinochle with the Kiron crowd, nights out with live music at the Jo-Mart in Denison and in later years traveling the U.S. with friends seeing the sights.
After retirement Wendell followed six grandchildren to their many school activities. He could always be found at the Denison High School sports events. He also began a new hobby of antique tractor rides until he was 90 years old accumulating well over 10,000 miles on his Ford tractor taking pride in touching 11 states including a trip over the 5 mile long Mackinaw Bridge.
Wendell died Monday morning July 18, 2022 at his apartment in Silver Ridge Assisted Living in Denison, Iowa at the age of 94 years, 5 months, and 20 days.
Wendell was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn and one sister Beverly (Argotsinger) Dumdei and husband Merle. brother-in-law Kay Winey and wife Delores Colleen; brother-in-law Roland Talcott.
Those remaining to cherish his memory include his two sons Terry Argotsinger and wife Barbara of Storm Lake, Iowa; Dean Argotsinger and wife Beth of Denison, Iowa; sister Vera (Argotsinger) Talcott of Omaha, NE; sister-in-law Barbara (Winey) Willey and husband John of Waterville, Maine; brother-in-law Jim Winey and wife Karen of North Oaks, Minnesota; six grandchildren; Kimberly Juhl and husband Randy of Spicer, Minnesota, Corinne Mattson and husband Travis of Ames, Iowa, Katy Fassnacht and husband Eric of Overland Park, Kansas, Eric Argotsinger and wife Terri of Ankeny, Iowa, Lori Jones and husband Brian of Westminster, Colorado and Keri Zimmer and husband Aric of Underwood, Iowa; eleven great grandchildren; Alex, Ellie, Owen, Connor, Quinton, Griffin, Nora, Abel, Clara, Ethan and Max; nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Brushy Creek Honor Flight.
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