William John Wehling, 65, of Broken Bow, passed away July 21, 2012, at his home.
Bill was born on Dec. 24, 1946, at Denver, to Teresa (Roes) and John Wehling.
Bill attended St Mary’s Catholic School through elementary and junior high school in Littleton, Colo., before moving to Broken Bow where he graduated in 1965. Upon graduation, Bill enrolled in Universal Trades School in Omaha, where he earned his certification in Auto Body and Fender Repair.
Just as he was starting a second certification program, Bill felt called to serve his country and enlisted in the Marines in June 1966. Bill served a tour of duty in Vietnam and was awarded three Purple Hearts for his bravery in battle. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal E-4 in 1968 at which time he returned to Broken Bow.
Bill went to work for Custer County Power District in 1969. It was a job that soon turned to a career. Over the next 40 years he served as a lineman, crew foreman, and a field engineer. Bill thoroughly loved his job and retired at the end of 2009 having accumulated a wealth of knowledge, stories and wonderful friends.
In 1970 Bill married Debra Brunken and had two children, Larry and Brenda.
In November 1977, Bill married Diane (Hart) and a family was born as they joined together with their children Dana, Chad, and Brenda. Theirs was a marriage that reminded daily what it means to find the one God has made especially for you.
Bill and Diane enjoyed card club, bowling, camping, fishing and vacationing with the kids. They in later years got a bit wiser and opted for cruises and trips to bull riding competitions instead of campfires and water skis. Bill’s other adventures included shoeing horses, tanning hides, building his own log cabin, black powder shoots, and woodworking. In his retirement, Bill enjoyed spending time tinkering with his tractors and tending his cattle as well as relaxing on the deck visiting friends, and enjoying his children and grandchildren.
Bill was a member of the VFW and the St. Joseph Catholic Church and will be remembered by those who knew him as a hard-worker who was always willing to help a friend or neighbor and a fixer of all things with moving parts (big and small). He will stay in the hearts of all who recognized his quick wit, quiet strength, and great integrity.
Bill will be greeted in Heaven by his fathers, John Wehling and Charles Wehling; infant son, Larry; and brother, Jim.
A constant source of strength and love for his family, he will be deeply missed by his wife, Diane; daughter, Dana Breiner and her son, Bruce Klesath, of Kearney; son, Chad Breiner, of Moline, Iowa; daughter, Brenda (Yancy) Broeker and their sons Logan and Preston, of Lincoln; mother, Teresa Wehling, of Broken Bow; sister, Catherine (Monroe) Rivers, of Topeka Kan.; brother, Ed (Maxine) Wehling, of Broken Bow; sister, Donna (Greg) Stamp, of Broken Bow; and a host of other family and friends.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday July 24, at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Broken Bow with Father Jim Hunt officiating. Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday July 23. The family will greet friends from 6-7 p.m., a wake service will follow at 7 p.m. at Govier Bros. Mortuary in Broken Bow. Memorials are suggested to the UNMC Epply Cancer Center for Research. Govier Bros. Mortuary of Broken Bow is in charge of arrangements.