David Marshall Wardell, age 76, passed away Monday, January 1, 2018 in Redmond, WA at the Redmond Heights Senior Living and Nursing Care facility.
Dave was born October 17, 1941 in Blair, NE to Merle Blaco Wardell and Enid (Jensen) Wardell. The family resided on their family farm near Kennard, NE where Dave joined older brother Richard. Later, a younger brother Robert and younger sister Anne were born, and all were reared and grew up on that same family farm. Dave and his brothers and sister enjoyed many happy times with numerous cousins and close friends from the local areas.
Dave attended the Kennard Public Schools from Kindergarten through HS graduation in 1959. He attended Doane College (now Doane University) in Crete, NE for two years, then transferred to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE. Dave had a lifelong enthusiasm for automobiles, starting at an early age where on his own built a box car around the age of 10 or 11, and later rebuilt a jalopy when he was around 16. He had what he called his 'college student's dream job' working as an intern and test driver for two summers at the Delco-Moraine test lab that was then near Dayton, OH. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1964 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
After college graduation, he enlisted in the US Air Force and was accepted into the Officer Training School. After graduation he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and eventually promoted to Captain prior to deployment to the Air Base in Tuy Hoa, Vietnam. He served in Vietnam in the 309th Fighter Squadron as the Chief Officer in charge of maintenance and repairs primarily of the Air Force F 15 fighter jets. Dave received consistent reviews of "Outstanding" throughout his years in the service, beginning with Officer Training School through his Honorable Discharge in December 1969.
On New Year's Eve 1969 Dave met his future wife, Susan Sobotka, at the Sobotka family home near Omaha, NE. He had accompanied a friend, a former Kennard neighbor who was also a friend of the Sobotka family, while on a visit. Dave and Sue became engaged that next year, and were married on January 16, 1971 at Zion Lutheran Church near Bennington, NE.
In 1970 Dave had begun work as an engineer with the Behlen Manufacturing Company in Columbus, NE, and in 1971 Dave and Sue moved into a small house in Columbus. Sue completed her degree in teaching from the University of Nebraska, and they moved to Omaha, NE where Dave worked as a chief engineer for the Puritan Manufacturing Company in Omaha, while Sue taught in a local school district and later at a community college.
After their first child Mark was born, Dave and Sue purchased an acreage on the Wardell farm in Kennard, NE moving into the house where the Wardell children had grown up. Dave and Sue had two more children, Jill and Timothy, and the family was involved in local community and church activities. In the mid-1980s, the family relocated to Champaign, IL, and then in 1987 they moved to the suburban area of Seattle, WA. They bought a house in Kirkland, WA in 1989 where Sue still resides.
Dave was an avid reader mainly interested in historical biographies and military history and was particularly knowledgeable about the American Civil War; he spent many hours reading or rereading accounts of various Civil War battles as well as the works of President Lincoln. While on family vacations, or on business trips when possible, he enjoyed touring some of the memorial battle areas in the eastern and southern regions of the United States. He was also interested in the history of old, abandoned mines that are scattered throughout the western region of the US, and while stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV during his final Air Force deployment he enjoyed hiking to abandoned mine areas and "ghost towns" in the mountains of Nevada and Utah.
Dave also was a keen Nebraska Cornhusker fan. After they married, Dave and Sue attended many home football games in Lincoln, NE and traveled to quite a few away games when they lived in Nebraska. After relocating to Champaign, IL for a new engineering job, Dave and Sue attended a football game there when Nebraska played the University of Illinois. Again, having relocated later to the Seattle, WA area they attended games at the University of Washington when the Huskers played there. Among the highlights from his college years, Dave and a cousin drove all day and through the night to attend the 1965 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX where unfortunately the Cornhuskers lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks by a score of 7 to 10. Dave had fond memories of the trip and often recalled the ups and downs of that escapade.
Important to Dave throughout his life were loyalty, compassion, and above all while on this earth, family. He enjoyed parental participation in the activities of his children, and fully supported Sue in career and community pursuits. He was regarded by all who knew him as a smart, kind, genteel man, who put others above himself and "stayed level-headed" as one of his friends described him recently. He had a quiet wit with a sense of the absurd ranging in taste from the satire of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" to the base antics and puns of the Marx Brothers.
In Washington, Dave was employed as chief engineer at three separate companies in the greater Seattle area, most recently at the Aesco company in Auburn, WA from 1998-2010. After his retirement in 2010, Dave was later diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and through the investigation of the Veteran's Administration was medically diagnosed as having contracted the neurological condition due to Agent Orange exposure during his deployment in Vietnam.
Dave is survived by wife Susan, Kirkland, WA; three children, Mark (Lisa) of Lynnwood, WA, Jill (Scott Olson) of Houston, TX, and Tim (Nahkole) of Snoqualmie, WA; three granddaughters, Audrey, Marian, and Cameran, and three grandsons, Day, Wesley, and Wyatt; brothers Richard (Linda) of Blair, NE, Robert of Plattsmouth, NE, sister Anne (David Lingenfelter) of Richmond, CA, step-sister Marj (Don Hubbs) of Richland Center, WI; and several nephews, nieces, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Paralyzed Veterans of America or to the University of Nebraska Foundation.
A memorial service with military honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday March 3 at Washelli of Bothell, WA. Later his cremated remains will be buried at the Tahoma National Veteran's Cemetery of Kent, WA.
Dave was born October 17, 1941 in Blair, NE to Merle Blaco Wardell and Enid (Jensen) Wardell. The family resided on their family farm near Kennard, NE where Dave joined older brother Richard. Later, a younger brother Robert and younger sister Anne were born, and all were reared and grew up on that same family farm. Dave and his brothers and sister enjoyed many happy times with numerous cousins and close friends from the local areas.
Dave attended the Kennard Public Schools from Kindergarten through HS graduation in 1959. He attended Doane College (now Doane University) in Crete, NE for two years, then transferred to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE. Dave had a lifelong enthusiasm for automobiles, starting at an early age where on his own built a box car around the age of 10 or 11, and later rebuilt a jalopy when he was around 16. He had what he called his 'college student's dream job' working as an intern and test driver for two summers at the Delco-Moraine test lab that was then near Dayton, OH. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1964 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
After college graduation, he enlisted in the US Air Force and was accepted into the Officer Training School. After graduation he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and eventually promoted to Captain prior to deployment to the Air Base in Tuy Hoa, Vietnam. He served in Vietnam in the 309th Fighter Squadron as the Chief Officer in charge of maintenance and repairs primarily of the Air Force F 15 fighter jets. Dave received consistent reviews of "Outstanding" throughout his years in the service, beginning with Officer Training School through his Honorable Discharge in December 1969.
On New Year's Eve 1969 Dave met his future wife, Susan Sobotka, at the Sobotka family home near Omaha, NE. He had accompanied a friend, a former Kennard neighbor who was also a friend of the Sobotka family, while on a visit. Dave and Sue became engaged that next year, and were married on January 16, 1971 at Zion Lutheran Church near Bennington, NE.
In 1970 Dave had begun work as an engineer with the Behlen Manufacturing Company in Columbus, NE, and in 1971 Dave and Sue moved into a small house in Columbus. Sue completed her degree in teaching from the University of Nebraska, and they moved to Omaha, NE where Dave worked as a chief engineer for the Puritan Manufacturing Company in Omaha, while Sue taught in a local school district and later at a community college.
After their first child Mark was born, Dave and Sue purchased an acreage on the Wardell farm in Kennard, NE moving into the house where the Wardell children had grown up. Dave and Sue had two more children, Jill and Timothy, and the family was involved in local community and church activities. In the mid-1980s, the family relocated to Champaign, IL, and then in 1987 they moved to the suburban area of Seattle, WA. They bought a house in Kirkland, WA in 1989 where Sue still resides.
Dave was an avid reader mainly interested in historical biographies and military history and was particularly knowledgeable about the American Civil War; he spent many hours reading or rereading accounts of various Civil War battles as well as the works of President Lincoln. While on family vacations, or on business trips when possible, he enjoyed touring some of the memorial battle areas in the eastern and southern regions of the United States. He was also interested in the history of old, abandoned mines that are scattered throughout the western region of the US, and while stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV during his final Air Force deployment he enjoyed hiking to abandoned mine areas and "ghost towns" in the mountains of Nevada and Utah.
Dave also was a keen Nebraska Cornhusker fan. After they married, Dave and Sue attended many home football games in Lincoln, NE and traveled to quite a few away games when they lived in Nebraska. After relocating to Champaign, IL for a new engineering job, Dave and Sue attended a football game there when Nebraska played the University of Illinois. Again, having relocated later to the Seattle, WA area they attended games at the University of Washington when the Huskers played there. Among the highlights from his college years, Dave and a cousin drove all day and through the night to attend the 1965 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX where unfortunately the Cornhuskers lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks by a score of 7 to 10. Dave had fond memories of the trip and often recalled the ups and downs of that escapade.
Important to Dave throughout his life were loyalty, compassion, and above all while on this earth, family. He enjoyed parental participation in the activities of his children, and fully supported Sue in career and community pursuits. He was regarded by all who knew him as a smart, kind, genteel man, who put others above himself and "stayed level-headed" as one of his friends described him recently. He had a quiet wit with a sense of the absurd ranging in taste from the satire of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" to the base antics and puns of the Marx Brothers.
In Washington, Dave was employed as chief engineer at three separate companies in the greater Seattle area, most recently at the Aesco company in Auburn, WA from 1998-2010. After his retirement in 2010, Dave was later diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and through the investigation of the Veteran's Administration was medically diagnosed as having contracted the neurological condition due to Agent Orange exposure during his deployment in Vietnam.
Dave is survived by wife Susan, Kirkland, WA; three children, Mark (Lisa) of Lynnwood, WA, Jill (Scott Olson) of Houston, TX, and Tim (Nahkole) of Snoqualmie, WA; three granddaughters, Audrey, Marian, and Cameran, and three grandsons, Day, Wesley, and Wyatt; brothers Richard (Linda) of Blair, NE, Robert of Plattsmouth, NE, sister Anne (David Lingenfelter) of Richmond, CA, step-sister Marj (Don Hubbs) of Richland Center, WI; and several nephews, nieces, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Paralyzed Veterans of America or to the University of Nebraska Foundation.
A memorial service with military honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday March 3 at Washelli of Bothell, WA. Later his cremated remains will be buried at the Tahoma National Veteran's Cemetery of Kent, WA.
David Marshall Wardell, age 76, passed away Monday, January 1, 2018 in Redmond, WA at the Redmond Heights Senior Living and Nursing Care facility.
Dave was born October 17, 1941 in Blair, NE to Merle Blaco Wardell and Enid (Jensen) Wardell. The family resided on their family farm near Kennard, NE where Dave joined older brother Richard. Later, a younger brother Robert and younger sister Anne were born, and all were reared and grew up on that same family farm. Dave and his brothers and sister enjoyed many happy times with numerous cousins and close friends from the local areas.
Dave attended the Kennard Public Schools from Kindergarten through HS graduation in 1959. He attended Doane College (now Doane University) in Crete, NE for two years, then transferred to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE. Dave had a lifelong enthusiasm for automobiles, starting at an early age where on his own built a box car around the age of 10 or 11, and later rebuilt a jalopy when he was around 16. He had what he called his 'college student's dream job' working as an intern and test driver for two summers at the Delco-Moraine test lab that was then near Dayton, OH. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1964 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
After college graduation, he enlisted in the US Air Force and was accepted into the Officer Training School. After graduation he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and eventually promoted to Captain prior to deployment to the Air Base in Tuy Hoa, Vietnam. He served in Vietnam in the 309th Fighter Squadron as the Chief Officer in charge of maintenance and repairs primarily of the Air Force F 15 fighter jets. Dave received consistent reviews of "Outstanding" throughout his years in the service, beginning with Officer Training School through his Honorable Discharge in December 1969.
On New Year's Eve 1969 Dave met his future wife, Susan Sobotka, at the Sobotka family home near Omaha, NE. He had accompanied a friend, a former Kennard neighbor who was also a friend of the Sobotka family, while on a visit. Dave and Sue became engaged that next year, and were married on January 16, 1971 at Zion Lutheran Church near Bennington, NE.
In 1970 Dave had begun work as an engineer with the Behlen Manufacturing Company in Columbus, NE, and in 1971 Dave and Sue moved into a small house in Columbus. Sue completed her degree in teaching from the University of Nebraska, and they moved to Omaha, NE where Dave worked as a chief engineer for the Puritan Manufacturing Company in Omaha, while Sue taught in a local school district and later at a community college.
After their first child Mark was born, Dave and Sue purchased an acreage on the Wardell farm in Kennard, NE moving into the house where the Wardell children had grown up. Dave and Sue had two more children, Jill and Timothy, and the family was involved in local community and church activities. In the mid-1980s, the family relocated to Champaign, IL, and then in 1987 they moved to the suburban area of Seattle, WA. They bought a house in Kirkland, WA in 1989 where Sue still resides.
Dave was an avid reader mainly interested in historical biographies and military history and was particularly knowledgeable about the American Civil War; he spent many hours reading or rereading accounts of various Civil War battles as well as the works of President Lincoln. While on family vacations, or on business trips when possible, he enjoyed touring some of the memorial battle areas in the eastern and southern regions of the United States. He was also interested in the history of old, abandoned mines that are scattered throughout the western region of the US, and while stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV during his final Air Force deployment he enjoyed hiking to abandoned mine areas and "ghost towns" in the mountains of Nevada and Utah.
Dave also was a keen Nebraska Cornhusker fan. After they married, Dave and Sue attended many home football games in Lincoln, NE and traveled to quite a few away games when they lived in Nebraska. After relocating to Champaign, IL for a new engineering job, Dave and Sue attended a football game there when Nebraska played the University of Illinois. Again, having relocated later to the Seattle, WA area they attended games at the University of Washington when the Huskers played there. Among the highlights from his college years, Dave and a cousin drove all day and through the night to attend the 1965 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX where unfortunately the Cornhuskers lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks by a score of 7 to 10. Dave had fond memories of the trip and often recalled the ups and downs of that escapade.
Important to Dave throughout his life were loyalty, compassion, and above all while on this earth, family. He enjoyed parental participation in the activities of his children, and fully supported Sue in career and community pursuits. He was regarded by all who knew him as a smart, kind, genteel man, who put others above himself and "stayed level-headed" as one of his friends described him recently. He had a quiet wit with a sense of the absurd ranging in taste from the satire of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" to the base antics and puns of the Marx Brothers.
In Washington, Dave was employed as chief engineer at three separate companies in the greater Seattle area, most recently at the Aesco company in Auburn, WA from 1998-2010. After his retirement in 2010, Dave was later diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and through the investigation of the Veteran's Administration was medically diagnosed as having contracted the neurological condition due to Agent Orange exposure during his deployment in Vietnam.
Dave is survived by wife Susan, Kirkland, WA; three children, Mark (Lisa) of Lynnwood, WA, Jill (Scott Olson) of Houston, TX, and Tim (Nahkole) of Snoqualmie, WA; three granddaughters, Audrey, Marian, and Cameran, and three grandsons, Day, Wesley, and Wyatt; brothers Richard (Linda) of Blair, NE, Robert of Plattsmouth, NE, sister Anne (David Lingenfelter) of Richmond, CA, step-sister Marj (Don Hubbs) of Richland Center, WI; and several nephews, nieces, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Paralyzed Veterans of America or to the University of Nebraska Foundation.
A memorial service with military honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday March 3 at Washelli of Bothell, WA. Later his cremated remains will be buried at the Tahoma National Veteran's Cemetery of Kent, WA.
Dave was born October 17, 1941 in Blair, NE to Merle Blaco Wardell and Enid (Jensen) Wardell. The family resided on their family farm near Kennard, NE where Dave joined older brother Richard. Later, a younger brother Robert and younger sister Anne were born, and all were reared and grew up on that same family farm. Dave and his brothers and sister enjoyed many happy times with numerous cousins and close friends from the local areas.
Dave attended the Kennard Public Schools from Kindergarten through HS graduation in 1959. He attended Doane College (now Doane University) in Crete, NE for two years, then transferred to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE. Dave had a lifelong enthusiasm for automobiles, starting at an early age where on his own built a box car around the age of 10 or 11, and later rebuilt a jalopy when he was around 16. He had what he called his 'college student's dream job' working as an intern and test driver for two summers at the Delco-Moraine test lab that was then near Dayton, OH. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1964 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
After college graduation, he enlisted in the US Air Force and was accepted into the Officer Training School. After graduation he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and eventually promoted to Captain prior to deployment to the Air Base in Tuy Hoa, Vietnam. He served in Vietnam in the 309th Fighter Squadron as the Chief Officer in charge of maintenance and repairs primarily of the Air Force F 15 fighter jets. Dave received consistent reviews of "Outstanding" throughout his years in the service, beginning with Officer Training School through his Honorable Discharge in December 1969.
On New Year's Eve 1969 Dave met his future wife, Susan Sobotka, at the Sobotka family home near Omaha, NE. He had accompanied a friend, a former Kennard neighbor who was also a friend of the Sobotka family, while on a visit. Dave and Sue became engaged that next year, and were married on January 16, 1971 at Zion Lutheran Church near Bennington, NE.
In 1970 Dave had begun work as an engineer with the Behlen Manufacturing Company in Columbus, NE, and in 1971 Dave and Sue moved into a small house in Columbus. Sue completed her degree in teaching from the University of Nebraska, and they moved to Omaha, NE where Dave worked as a chief engineer for the Puritan Manufacturing Company in Omaha, while Sue taught in a local school district and later at a community college.
After their first child Mark was born, Dave and Sue purchased an acreage on the Wardell farm in Kennard, NE moving into the house where the Wardell children had grown up. Dave and Sue had two more children, Jill and Timothy, and the family was involved in local community and church activities. In the mid-1980s, the family relocated to Champaign, IL, and then in 1987 they moved to the suburban area of Seattle, WA. They bought a house in Kirkland, WA in 1989 where Sue still resides.
Dave was an avid reader mainly interested in historical biographies and military history and was particularly knowledgeable about the American Civil War; he spent many hours reading or rereading accounts of various Civil War battles as well as the works of President Lincoln. While on family vacations, or on business trips when possible, he enjoyed touring some of the memorial battle areas in the eastern and southern regions of the United States. He was also interested in the history of old, abandoned mines that are scattered throughout the western region of the US, and while stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV during his final Air Force deployment he enjoyed hiking to abandoned mine areas and "ghost towns" in the mountains of Nevada and Utah.
Dave also was a keen Nebraska Cornhusker fan. After they married, Dave and Sue attended many home football games in Lincoln, NE and traveled to quite a few away games when they lived in Nebraska. After relocating to Champaign, IL for a new engineering job, Dave and Sue attended a football game there when Nebraska played the University of Illinois. Again, having relocated later to the Seattle, WA area they attended games at the University of Washington when the Huskers played there. Among the highlights from his college years, Dave and a cousin drove all day and through the night to attend the 1965 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX where unfortunately the Cornhuskers lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks by a score of 7 to 10. Dave had fond memories of the trip and often recalled the ups and downs of that escapade.
Important to Dave throughout his life were loyalty, compassion, and above all while on this earth, family. He enjoyed parental participation in the activities of his children, and fully supported Sue in career and community pursuits. He was regarded by all who knew him as a smart, kind, genteel man, who put others above himself and "stayed level-headed" as one of his friends described him recently. He had a quiet wit with a sense of the absurd ranging in taste from the satire of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" to the base antics and puns of the Marx Brothers.
In Washington, Dave was employed as chief engineer at three separate companies in the greater Seattle area, most recently at the Aesco company in Auburn, WA from 1998-2010. After his retirement in 2010, Dave was later diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and through the investigation of the Veteran's Administration was medically diagnosed as having contracted the neurological condition due to Agent Orange exposure during his deployment in Vietnam.
Dave is survived by wife Susan, Kirkland, WA; three children, Mark (Lisa) of Lynnwood, WA, Jill (Scott Olson) of Houston, TX, and Tim (Nahkole) of Snoqualmie, WA; three granddaughters, Audrey, Marian, and Cameran, and three grandsons, Day, Wesley, and Wyatt; brothers Richard (Linda) of Blair, NE, Robert of Plattsmouth, NE, sister Anne (David Lingenfelter) of Richmond, CA, step-sister Marj (Don Hubbs) of Richland Center, WI; and several nephews, nieces, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Paralyzed Veterans of America or to the University of Nebraska Foundation.
A memorial service with military honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday March 3 at Washelli of Bothell, WA. Later his cremated remains will be buried at the Tahoma National Veteran's Cemetery of Kent, WA.
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