Wesley Hamdorf

1937 - 2025

Wesley Hamdorf, 87, of Hiawatha died peacefully at home, of a broken heart, on January 30, 2025, five days after losing his wife. Similar to their lives, Wesley and Roberta will have a joint visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday, January 31, 2025, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A Memorial Service for both Roberta and Wesley, will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 1, at St Andrew Lutheran Church with a luncheon to follow. The burial will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date. Wesley Eugene Hamdorf was born January 31, 1937, at home in Massillon, Iowa as the fourth of five children to Albert and Marie (Stoffregen) Hamdorf. When he was 5, the family moved to a farm south of Stanwood. Wes attended Stanwood Community School and graduated in 1955. He attended University of Iowa and was proud to be picked to play in the marching band as a freshman. Wes started working at Collins Radio/Rockwell/Rockwell Collins and worked there for almost 40 years. He enjoyed the friends he made and the work he did. He worked there while the U.S. was aiming to put a man on the moon. He was very proud to be part of that project and attaining such a worthwhile goal. Wes married Roberta (Martin) Hamdorf on July 19, 1959, at Tipton Methodist Church in Tipton, IA, and shortly thereafter served active duty for six months with the Iowa National Guard, followed by weekly meetings and two-week active duty for six years. Being a husband and father was an important role for Wesley, and he was a proud father of one son and three daughters. He, along with a few other dedicated fathers, put together teams to start the Hiawatha Kids League. He was on the Board and helped them get started and coached the first few years of their existence. He also served as a leader for the Indian Guides, which was a father/daughter organization. He was a faithful member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church for over 60 years. He served two terms on the Church Council and sang in the Choir for over 25 years. He was grateful to be on the committee to purchase a wonderful organ for St. Andrew. He was Church Treasurer for almost 10 years and volunteered as an usher until the pandemic. He also served many years as a volunteer Treasurer for A Promise of Health, a nonprofit service that provides medical care to rural Mexicans who have never before had access to trained health care. Wes enjoyed playing on an adult baseball team, coed volleyball team, various bowling leagues and, of course, golf. Whatever Wes decided to do, he did well. He dedicated each morning to Sudoku and frequently could be found in his office doing genealogy research. While quiet in nature, he loved being around others. Wes and Roberta did everything together; they spent many happy hours dancing and playing cards and he excelled at both. He loved to travel or just "Go Somewhere". As such, Wes spent his retirement years driving for local dealerships. Wes and Roberta enjoyed their many trips with friends and their winters in Arizona. Wes is survived by his children, Kevin (Karla Dennie) Hamdorf, Darcy (Kevin Pauly) Magee, Traci (Steve) Egly, and Karen (Jay) Kreshel, grandchildren Conor (Kallie Schmitt), Caitlin and Killian Magee, Spencer (Jill Griminger), Harrisen (Taylor Brown), Emerson and Audrey (Matthew Schwartz) Egly, Creighton (Ashlyn Cook) and Easton Kreshel, Eric (Maranda Simonette) and Ryan (Christy Elliott) Pauly. He was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren: Rosemary, Keira, Madelyn, Grayson, Connor, Sophia, Carlyn, and Maci. He is also survived by his sister, Carol Kurth, sisters-in-law, Mary Louise Vrooman, Priscilla Highland and Marilyn Smith, brother-in-law, Bob Friday and many wonderful nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and sisters Marge Lehrman, Marian McWilliams, and brother, Harlan Hamdorf. Memorials may be made to St. Andrew Lutheran Church or A Promise of Health (APOH), P.O. Box 247, Hiawatha, Iowa 52233. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.