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Wendall Paul Gnat

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Wendall Paul Gnat

Birth	:	23 Apr 1935
Death	:	1 Apr 2016
Burial	:	Saint Marys Cemetery, Watertown, Codington County, USA
Coordinate	:	44.8908005, -97.0836029
Plot	:	Section 7
Description	:	Wendell Paul Gnat, 80, Sioux Falls, died Friday, April 1, 2016 at the Sioux Falls, VA Medical Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00am, Friday, April 8, 2016, at Holy Name Catholic Church, Watertown, with visitation beginning one hour prior. Inurnment will follow at St. Marys Cemetery with Full Military Honors. The family will be gathering for a visitation/open house Thursday evening April 7, from 5-10pm, at the Quality Inn (just North of McDonalds) in Watertown. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to St. Jude Childrens Hospital or Shriners Hospital for Children. Wendell Paul Gnat was born April 23, 1935... Read More	Wendell Paul Gnat, 80, Sioux Falls, died Friday, April 1, 2016 at the Sioux Falls, VA Medical Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00am, Friday, April 8, 2016, at Holy Name Catholic Church, Watertown, with visitation beginning one hour prior. Inurnment will follow at St. Marys Cemetery with Full Military Honors. The family will be gathering for a visitation/open house Thursday evening April 7, from 5-10pm, at the Quality Inn (just North of McDonalds) in Watertown. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to St. Jude Childrens Hospital or Shriners Hospital for Children. Wendell Paul Gnat was born April 23, 1935 on the family farm in Kingsbury County, South Dakota to Edward and Bertha (Giles) Gnat. Wendell was the seventh of ten children born to Bertha & Edward. Wendells parents were farmers who also raised hogs, milked cows, chickens, a large garden and farmed. Wendell attended grade school at Heartland 36 in Kingsbury County and attended Bryant High School. He graduated in May 1954. He was born and raised a Catholic and attended St. Marys Church, Bryant SD. Wendell also taught the younger boys how to serve mass at St. Marys Catholic Church. He helped his family and neighbors plant their crops in the spring of each year, and harvest in the fall. He also had to milk cows. He hauled his younger siblings to school to Bryant, SD. Wendell loved to farm. That was his ambition in life. Wendell attended Bryant High School and was very active in sports, but only if he got his chores done at home first. In High school, he played football (all-state 1952, 1953, 1954), basketball (Conference All-Star Team 1952-1954), track (1952, 1953, 1954), received a medal for shot put (1952, 1953, 1954), 440 and high jump, receiving many medals and awards for sports. Wendell graduated in 1954 and his teacher got him a job at Yankton Gavins Point Dam where he worked until 1955. He bought his first car; a ford, in 1955. He sent money home monthly to pay for the car. In April 1955, Wendell was drafted into the US Army. Wendell trained in Arkansas and Ft. Carson, CO. where he was selected to report to Fr. Meyer, VA. 3rd Army Infantry Regiment; a/k/a the Presidential Honor Guard under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Wendell served from 1955 to 1957. After discharge, he moved to Watertown and worked various jobs, including various gas stations and eventually owning, Wendells Standard Station in 1960. He also worked at Firestone and Park Grant (Nash Finch). He met his wife, JoAnn Cordell, and they were married December 30, 1957. They celebrated their 58th anniversary in 2015. Wendell attended Lake Area Vocational School for four years, in Farming & Mechanical work as well as Financial Planning. Wendell served on the Sheridan Township arranging repair, snow removal and gravel as needed and also helped with road repairs. At Christmas time he would play Santa Claus in the neighborhood and surprised the children. None of the neighbors caught on until a couple years later. Wendell and family moved to Appleby, SD in May 1962. They started out with one milk cow and made monthly payments to Jerry Loken until the cow was paid in full. In a few years, we purchased milk cows, raised hogs, farmed, eventually had stock cows. He did custom baling, corn picking, corn shelling and raised all his feed for animals with the help of his family. He enjoyed fishing with family, pheasant hunting and deer hunting with his sons. Wendell also played surprise Santa Claus for several years in the neighborhood. It took a couple years before they figured who he actually was. He also played Santa at card parties and Christmas parties also. In 1989, Wendell and JoAnn sold their farm at Appleby, SD and moved to Omaha, NE. in September 1990. After moving to Omaha, Wendell and JoAnn both volunteered at the Veterans Hospital. He worked two jobs at a nursery (40 acres) where he planted corn, pumpkins and helped to keep nursery customers happy. Wendell was then employed by the Millard School System for 10 years. His final position was at Millard West High School, Millard, NE, as a grounds person. The school had 2,500 students. This was a new high school so he had his hands full with farming, fixing, tree planting, marking football fields, tracks & baseball diamonds, including mowing grass, snow removal and upkeep of tractors & mowers. He was honored as a guest of honor at all football and softball banquets with a standing ovation. He received an award from Millard Schools: a lifetime membership to all the activities of Millard West High School and others and was selected by students of the Annual School Book as special employee honored for all his help. In 2007, the couple moved back to Huron, SD and he enjoyed time with the grandkids fishing, and going to their school events and activities. In November 2011 moved to Sioux Falls, SD for medical reasons. Wendell is survived by wife, JoAnn (South Dakota), Edward (Kelly) Gnat (California), Rodney Gnat (Florida), Jeffrey (Tammy) Gnat (South Dakota), Joel (Heather) Gnat (Minnesota), Jody (Damon) Adams (South Dakota) and Gerry Isackson (South Dakota), by 17 grand children and 12 great grand children as well as several nieces and nephews; and by special friends: Henry Hanten, Dale & Teresa Waba, Darwin & Kay Latt, Pike & Joan Hemp, Norm and Cathy Moffit, Gene and Dorothy Klucas and Joe Tooley. Wendell was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Bertha (Giles) Gnat, Evelyn (Morris) Storhaug, Marion (Jack) Schmidt, Mildred Keiser, Cecil Gnat, Armand Borick and Marty Gnat, and by nieces and nephews, James Storhaug, Wallace Storhaug, Lawanna Gnat, Marlene Thompson, Chris Robenalt and Jesse Gomez; and Mary Ann Cordell (Sister-in-Law), Jesse James Cordell (Nephew), James Cordell (Brother-in-Law), Dennis Cordell (Brother-in-Law) and Lorraine (Ray) DeVille (Sister-in-Law). Memorials to St. Jude Childrens Hospital P.O. Box 50 Memphis, TN 38101-9929 1-800-4ST-JUDE or Shriners Hospital for Children 510 S. Phillips Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57104 605-336-1117 - Heartland Funeral Home

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Wendall Paul Gnat's memorial?
Wendall Paul Gnat's memorial is located at: Saint Marys Cemetery, Watertown, Codington County, USA.
When did Wendall Paul Gnat death?
Wendall Paul Gnat death on 1 Apr 2016 in
Where are the coordinates of the Wendall Paul Gnat's memorial?
Latitude: 44.8908005
Longitude: -97.0836029

Family Members:

Spouse

Joann Mary Cordell Gnat

(1936 - unknow)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Marys Cemetery
Watertown, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8908005, -97.0836029

2. Mount Hope Cemetery
Watertown, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.9164009, -97.0986023

3. Mother of God Monastery Cemetery
Watertown, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8678000, -97.1181000

4. Schneiders Grove Cemetery
Kranzburg Township, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8786968, -96.9435766

5. Spooner Children Graves
Kranzburg Township, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8786968, -96.9435766

6. Holy Rosary Cemetery
Kranzburg, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8946991, -96.9182968

7. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Waverly, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.9963989, -96.9697037

8. Kampeska Cemetery
Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8703003, -97.2778015

9. Saint Johns Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Rauville, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 45.0432053, -97.0844650

10. Saint Peter's Catholic Cemetery
Grover, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8118500, -97.2690600

11. Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8039017, -97.2671967

12. Oxford Cemetery
Thomas, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7607900, -97.2134400

13. Castlewood Cemetery
Castlewood, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7183200, -97.0264800

14. Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery
Castlewood, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7176575, -97.0239113

15. Goodwin Cemetery
Goodwin, Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8792000, -96.8242035

16. Bemis Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8333015, -96.8343964

17. Christian Reformed Cemetery
Bemis, Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7757000, -96.8751000

18. Evergreen Presbyterian Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7747002, -96.8657990

19. Esterly Cemetery
Florence, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 45.0564003, -97.2281036

20. Saint Lukes Lutheran Cemetery
Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 45.0926094, -97.0336533

21. Havana Lutheran Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7771590, -96.8423800

22. Larson Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.9347000, -96.7893982

23. Swedish Cemetery
Astoria, Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8499985, -96.7727966

24. Troy Cemetery
Grant County, USA
Coordinate: 45.0513992, -96.8613968