Russell Wegner

Russell Anthony Wegner, age 68 of Fredericksburg, IA, died Saturday, September 7, 2019, at his home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 12, 2019, at Holy Family Catholic Church in New Hampton with Msgr. Carl Schmitt celebrating the Mass. A private family burial will take place at a later date. Friends may greet the family from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton, where there will be a 7:00 p.m. Parish Scripture Service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass on Thursday at the church. Russell Anthony Wegner was born on Dec. 27, 1950, at St. Joseph Hospital in New Hampton, Iowa to John and Margaret (Rausch) Wegner. He was one of nine children, and he learned the value of hard work at an early age. At an early age, he found a love for fishing and gardening and often helped with the “canning season” that was part of the Wegner household every year. He attended St. Joseph Community School, and then went to work in the family business, Wegner Welding. Russ was an outstanding welder throughout his life. He wasn’t a “blueprint guy,” but he could look at a welding project and instinctively know what to do. His sister-in-law, Pat Ackley, may have said it best, “If Russ can’t fix it, it’s not fixable.” He married the love of his life, Nancy Yearling, on March 3, 1970, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Hampton. The couple lived in North Washington, and Russ continued to work at Wegner Welding. Their family grew to five as Russ and Nancy had three children — Vicki, Denise and Ryan. In 1977, the Wegners moved to Fredericksburg. His kids remember fishing with their dad and the numerous camping trips the family took with Shorty and Joyce Shatek. And they roughed it, too, as Russ was a “tent camper,” but the Wegner kids have fond memories of fishing and boating during those camping trips. Russ opened his own welding shop in Fredericksburg, but because of the farm crisis, he had to close it and went to work at Beatrice in the maintenance department, but he continued to “weld on the side.” Eventually, he was offered a welding job at L&R Manufacturing, and he jumped at the chance to return to the occupation he loved the most. He was a hard worker throughout his life, but both he and Nancy were very supportive of their children, attending their sporting events and school activities, and as they grew into adults, that love and support for his children never wavered. One of the proudest moments of his life was when he was able to “pin” his son at his graduation from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. When his children began having kids of their own, Russ was a fun-filled grandpa who loved to take his grandchildren fishing and teaching them how to weld. He’d tell them that “you’re not going to learn this in school so listen up and I’ll show you how it’s done.” Health issues forced Russ to retire in 2016, and he wasn’t the kind of guy who liked to be “chained to a chair.” He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and when he could, he loved hanging out with “the guys” at Pleggenkuhle Woods. The stories those guys told will be cherished by friends of Russ for years to come. The legacy Russ leaves his family and friends is one of love, support and a work ethic second to none. He will be missed by all those that knew him — especially his grandchildren, who were his sidekicks. Russell is survived by his wife, Nancy Wegner of Fredericksburg, IA; one son, Ryan (Brittany) Wegner of Janesville, IA; two daughters, Vicki Wegner of Holt, FL, Denise (Pete) Gordon of Fredericksburg, IA; nine grandchildren, Amanda and Bethany Dewater, Carley (Ian) Martir, Haley (Dylan) Buchholtz, Cole and Wyatt Ohm, Kinnick Gordon, Taelynn and Maxton Wegner, and one arriving soon; seven great-grandchildren, Tatum, Keegan, Remington, Jaxson, Jordin, Ashtyn and Tyson; one brother, Steve (Sue) Wegner of New Hampton, IA; three sisters, Marilyn Wegner of New Hampton, IA, Nita (Ron) Vikdal of North Washington, IA, Joyce (Lester) Shatek of New Hampton, IA; brother-in-law, Kay Turner of New Hampton, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Allan Wegner, Rich Wegner, Gary (Deb) Wegner; sister, Kathleen Turner; great-granddaughter, Brooklyn.