Wendell Dale Behrend son of Earnest and Fern (Fiscus) Behrend was born in Harlan, IA, on May 18, 1941. Wendell was raised on the family farm of rural Jacksonville with his older brother Eldred. He attended country school until his mother passed away in 1948. Soon after his mother's death, Earnest and the boys moved to Sturgis, SD, to be near the Behrend grandparents. In 1953, Earnest married Marie Sachtjen, and in 1955, the family moved back to the farm in Iowa. Wendell graduated from Irwin Community High School in 1959.
The next few years he worked on the farm in the summers and spent winters in California living with friends and working various jobs. He served in the United States Army from 1963 to 1965. After returning from the service, he became the third generation to farm the Fiscus family farm; where he lived in the house that his grandparents, Lou and Dilly Fiscus, built in 1918.
Wendell was a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast who enjoyed many rides and long trips with friends.
Wendell was preceded in death by his parents and older brother Eldred, nephew Todd Behrend, and great nephew Maxwell Behrend. Wendell is survived by sister in law, Sandy Behrend of Lincoln, NE, brothers, Wayne (Jolene) Behrend of Harlan, IA, and Richard (Lorraine) Behrend of Walnut, IA, and special friend Darla Hall of Kirkman, IA, 9 nieces and nephews and their families.
Wendell passed away May 25, 2021, at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, IA.
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