Willard "Bus" Wendt September 20, 1916 ~ November 24, 2011
		Draucker Funeral Home 700 N. Spruce Street Post Office Box 296 Ogallala, NE 69153 Ph:  308.284.4021

 OBITUARY

  Willard "Bus" Wendt, 95, longtime Keystone resident, died Thursday, November 24, 2011 at Indian Hills Manor.

Willard was born September 20, 1916 at Ithaca, Nebr. He was the fifth of seven children born to Emil and Olivia Swanson Wendt. He received his education in country schools at Elm Creek, Kimball, and Keystone.

Bus spent most of his life in the ranching business working for Morton Sillasen, George McGinley, Jr., and Fred Knight. He served nearly five years in the US Army, being inducted September 18, 1941. Bus received his early training in Puget Sound, WA. and then had further training in Texas before being sent overseas. He served in Denmark and Antwert, Belgium as military police. After the fall of Hitler, Bus' company guarded the "Wolf-Den" at Berkishgarden, the hide-out of Hitler and Sarah Braun.

On January 28, 1946 he was discharged at Leavenworth, Kansas. Bus was a lifelong member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3755.

On January 15, 1948 Bus married Lorna Richards of Ogallala. The couple made their home for the next five years on the Buckhorn Springs Ranch. Bus was the ranch foreman for George McGinley, Jr. In 1953 they purchased a home in Keystone and Bus worked for the county for two years before returning to ranch work in 1957. He then worked for Fred Knight for the next twenty two years, retiring in 1979.

The Wendts enjoyed traveling, gardening, yard work, and feeding the birds, wild turkeys, and deer. Bus volunteered and was active in the community, mowing the vacant lots, church and school yards, and the city park. He enjoyed helping his neighbors and friends when needed. In 1993 Bus and Lorna were awarded the Ak-Sar-Ben "Good Neighbors" citation. In 1998 the Wendts celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary.

He moved to Indian Hills Manor in 2002.

Preceding him in death were his parents. two brothers Clarence and Ralph, and two sisters Beulah Blomenkamp and Thelma Trim.

Survivors include his wife Lorna Wendt of Ogallala, sister Arta Thiems, of Keystone, and a brother Dorsey Wendt and his wife Thelma of Vancouver, WA. Also many nieces, nephews, and loving friends.

Visitation will be Monday, November 28, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Draucker Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be Tuesday, November 29, at 10 a.m. from the Draucker Funeral Home. Rev. Roger Wendt of the Kearney New Life Assembly of God officiating. A memorial has been established to the Keystone Fire Dept. Interment is in the Ogallala Cemetery with military honors by the Keith County Veterans Organization.

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Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.