Gerald C. Wassenberg

Gerald C. Wassenberg, 90, of Marysville, KS, died October 9, 2019 at Seneca, KS. Visitation is Thursday, October 10, from noon to 5 p.m. at Kinsley Mortuary. A rosary service will be held at 7:00 p.m., Thursday at St. Gregory's Catholic Church. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 11 at St. Gregory's Catholic Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Gerald was born on January 5, 1929 near Marysville, KS, to Frank and Martha (Smith) Wassenberg, the sixth of seven children.  He attended St. Gregory’s Catholic School through the 8th grade and graduated from Marysville High School in 1947. On August 10, 1960, he married Dolores Hollern at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Esbon, KS.  He was a lifelong resident of Marysville. He was a member of St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Union Pacific Old Timers Club.  He was also a founding member and board member of the Sunflower UP Federal Credit Union. Gerald hired out on the Union Pacific Railroad in 1950 and retired in 1981.  He was a member of the National Guard from 1948 to 1974, earning the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CW3).  He went on active duty twice for tours in the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War.  Awards in the military include Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Armed Service Reserve Medal. In earlier years, he farmed, delivered milk, hauled water, and had an insulation business.  He also owned Vic & Jerry’s Used Cars and Tom & Jerry’s Stump Removal.  He had a bike shop and enjoyed fixing bikes. Gerald enjoyed spending time with family and playing cards.  He spent lots of time at the Helvering Senior Center in Marysville eating lunch and playing cards.  He also loved to be around his grandchildren and facetiming with them when they were not with him.  Gerald also enjoyed telling stories about the past. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Dolores, Marysville; children, Mark Wassenberg, Marysville, DaNita Wassenberg, Rosebud, SD, Kent Wassenberg, Home, KS, Dixie (Steve) Lepper, McCook, NE, Kurt (Jerre') Wassenberg, Abilene, KS, DaVina Wassenberg, Omaha, NE, Myles (Melanie) Wassenberg, DeSoto, KS, and DeAnna (Tim) McCloud, Chapin, SC; sister, Martha Meier, Marysville; sisters-in-law, LaNeta (Pat) Smith, Beloit, KS, and Donna Hollern, Columbus, KS; thirteen grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Kiana Ryschele McCloud; and siblings, Margretha Landoll, Vera Landoll, Laurence Wassenberg, Raphael Wassenberg and Paul Wassenberg. A memorial fund has been established and will be designated later.  Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gerald C. Wassenberg, please visit our flower store.