Wayne Tempel

Wayne Tempel, age 89, longtime LaMoille resident, passed away late Wednesday night, July 29th, at the Bickford Cottages in Marshalltown under their care and of Iowa River Hospice.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home with Pastor Terry Collins officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until service time. He will be laid to rest in the Elmwood Cemetery at LaMoille beside his son, Steve. Memorials may be directed to his family. His family encourages everyone to be comfortable in this warm weather, so dress casually. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.

Born on St. Patrick’s Day of 1937 (March 17th), he was the son of Lewis and Vera (Bauer) Tempel. He was born in Kamrar, Hamilton County, Iowa, and graduated from high school there.

Wayne moved to Marshalltown to begin employment in 1958 driving semi working for a cattle feeder/grain farmer until 1961 when he began working for Fisher Governor. For 37 ½ faithful years he worked the midnight-8:00 a.m. shift as a tool-maker but also worked daylight hours farming and hauling grain. His nighttime career led him to being called “Night Owl”- his CB handle. Wayne was the official snow-plow man for LaMoille, holding that position until two years ago. He drove his tractor with the loader clearing the town in the worst of weather. There was seldom a moment that Wayne was not occupied doing something.

Wayne was a dedicated member of the Iowa Army National Guard and served our country honorably for 12 years until discharged as a Sgt.

On November 1st, 1959, at the Beaman Methodist Church, he was united in marriage to Linda Hays. Their first date resulted in her coming home to tell her mother “He is the man I am going to marry!” and the rest is history. The young couple made LaMoille their home with three wonderful children. He was a member of the LaMoille Congregational Church, MIAPA, The UAW Local #893, Izaak Walton League and the Elmwood Cemetery Association at LaMoille. It was a good day when he could fish, hunt, camp or motorcycle but it was a great day if he could do that with family. Trips to the summer home in Lake City, MN. were cherished and enjoyed.

Left to cherish his memory are Linda Lou Tempel, his loving wife of 65 years; son Leslie Wayne (Shirley) Tempel of State Center and daughter Paula Jean (James) White of Melbourne; two grandchildren- Lucas (Allie) White and Shawn Menne; as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his family at Bickford Cottages.

In death, Wayne rejoined his son, Steven Carl Tempel, parents Lewis and Vera, in-laws Joe and Fern Hays, brother Elwin and sister, Lora Sweet Jones.

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