William Wrenn

COLUMBUS- William "Bill" Wrenn, 92, of Columbus, died Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, at the Columbus Community Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday,  at the Federated Church with Rev. Dr. James Goodenberger officiating. Military honors will be by the American Legion Hartman Post 84 Honor Guard.

Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. Friday at the church.  Memorials are suggested to the church.

William E. "Bill" Wrenn was born Dec. 7, 1918, in Omaha, to Elton E. and Frances S. (Huston) Wrenn. He graduated from Omaha Technical High School in Omaha and attended the University of Omaha where he received an Associates in Applied Arts and Sciences degree. 

Bill entered the United States Army Air Corp on Sept. 16, 1938. Bill was to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross award on Monday (Feb. 7, 2011), but passed away an hour before the representatives from Offutt Air Force Base arrived. Bill was honorably discharged on Nov. 16, 1945.

On Sept. 26, 1942, while stationed at Roswell, N.M., Bill was united in marriage to Evelyn Hansen of Blair. After his discharge, the couple moved back to Nebraska and Bill furthered his education, graduating from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln with a degree in Electrical Engineering and his Masters in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburg. Bill worked for Westinghouse Electric in Sharon, Pa., for several years. In 1975 the couple moved to Columbus, where Bill went to work for the Nebraska Public Power District from whence he retired in 1990.

Bill was an elder in the church, and was a moderator of a task force in Homestead Presbytery. He was past president of the local chapter of Nebraska Society of Professional Engineers, and in Kiwanis International both past president and past lieutenant governor of the local district. Bill was active in the American Red Cross Blood Mobile activities. Bill was a member of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed taking his dog for daily walks and visiting with his neighbors. 

Bill is survived by his wife, Evelyn Wrenn, of Columbus; daughter, Susan (William) Haney, of Austin, Texas; daughter, Anne (Frederick Smalley) Wrenn, of Lebec, Calif.; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and brother, Albert (Shirley) Wartchow, of Brookfield, Wis.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters; and one brother.

Condolences may be sent to www.gasshaney.com