Bernard F. Wendel, 93, of Chester, Iowa, died Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at the Riceville Family Care Center where he had resided for a short time.

Bernard Francis Wendel was born Sept. 4, 1922, in Rose Creek, Minnesota, to Peter and Mary (Vogler) Wendel. He graduated from Rose Creek High School in 1941 and was united in marriage to Juletta Bissen at St. Peters Catholic Church in Rose Creek on Oct. 22, 1945. Bernard and Juletta moved to Chester, Iowa, in 1954 where he started working at Chester Oil. In 1971, Bernard purchased Chester Oil and ran it for 24 years before retiring in 1995. Bernard was on the Rose Creek and Chester Fire Departments for a combined 50 years. He served on the Chester City Council for 20 years, serving eight of those years as mayor. Bernard was a third degree Knight of Columbus Council 4144 in Elma and reached fourth degree with the Knights of Columbus No. 271 Davis Assemble.

Bernard always enjoyed the opportunity he had spending time with his granddaughters when they would stop at his place after school, he would always make sure they had a snack and would play rummy with them. In later years he would go for a drive every day to check on his grandsons’ horses.

Bernard is survived by one son; Jeff (Pam) Wendel of Chester, Iowa, a daughter-in-law Karen Wendel of Le Roy, Minnesota, seven grandchildren; Amanda Keller, Tom Wendel, James Wendel, Ryan Wendel, Jason Wendel, Scott Bowron and Leanne Villano, he is also survived by seven great-grandchildren. Bernard was preceded in death by his parents; his, wife Juletta; two sons: Michael Wendel and Robert and his wife, Connie Wendel; one daughter: Louise and her husband, Michael Bowron.

Funeral Mass for Bernard Wendel will be held 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 15, 2016, at St Patricks Catholic Church in LeRoy, Minnesota, with Father Marreddy Pothireddy officiating. Burial will be at Chester Hill Cemetery rural Chester, Iowa. Visitation will be held 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 14, 2016, at the Hindt Funeral Home in LeRoy with a prayer service being held at 5 p.m. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Condolences may be left at www.Hindtfuneralhomes.com.