Edwin E. Wiedeman

Graveside Services for Edwin Earl Wiedeman, 91, will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 22, 2020 at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Norfolk. Reverend Dave Goehmann will officiate.  Military honors will be conducted by the Nebraska Army National Guard Honor Guard, American Legion Post 16 and VFW Post 1644. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at Home for Funerals Chapel on 708 Georgia Avenue.  Arrangements are under the direction of Home for Funerals.

Edwin passed away Monday, May 18, 2020 at Norfolk Veteran’s Home.

Ed was born November 27, 1928 in Gregory County, South Dakota to Michael and Laura (Gnirk) Wiedeman. He was the 8th of 10 children. Ed grew up on a farm near Lucas, South Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed at a Lutheran Church in South Dakota. The family eventually moved to a farm north of Madison where Ed attended Enola grade school and Madison High School. 

Ed joined the Navy in 1945 and was discharged in December of 1947. He served on the ship, Floyd’s Bay, a seaplane tender. After his service, he resided in Norfolk. In 1948 he met his sweetheart, Dixie Schacher. They married November 12, 1950, almost 70 years ago, at Christ Lutheran Church. The proud parents of Roger, Rhonda, and Pamela. Their family vacations were always camping trips, of which there were many. Ed was employed by Montgomery Ward until the store closed. He then went to work as a maintenance man at the Holiday Inn until his retirement.  He was a member of the American Legion and a life-long member of the VFW Post 1644.

When he was nine years old, Ed was riding a pony that fell on Ed's hip and broke it; he was in a cast for one year. When it was removed, the doctor discovered the hip had never been broken, only dislocated. As such, the hip was deformed and caused him pain and discomfort the rest of his life. He endured and recovered from one hip replacement and two revision surgeries. 

He was an excellent handy-man. He could do electrical work, plumbing, and carpentry. Ed’s hobby was making electric lamps out of discarded items, chimes from old silverware and collecting and refurbishing railroad and barnyard lanterns. He loved to help out his relatives and friends. He deer-hunted for many years until his hip prevented him from walking distances.  Ed and Dixie loved to camp and traveled many places in the United States, including Alaska.  In later years, the camping trips included their grandchildren. They enjoyed attending country music festivals. After retirement, they wintered in the Rio Grande Valley for 24 years. Ed was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

He is survived by his wife, Dixie; son, Roger Wiedeman of Omaha, NE; daughter, Pamela (John) Van Cleaf of Lincoln, NE; five grandchildren: eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Iva Schultz, Lorraine Jones; and brother, Wayne Wiedeman.

Ed was preceded in death by daughter, Rhonda (Mark) Miller, three brothers and three sisters.

A memorial funeral service will be held at a future time.

Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation.

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