Galen Wedel

Galen Ray Wedel was born on November 18, 1944 to Menno and Salena Wedel in McPherson, Kansas. His journey here ended on March 25, 2024 at Dugan Memorial home in West Point, Mississippi, reaching the age of 79 years.

       Galen spent his childhood years and received his formal education in Goltry, Oklahoma. As a child, he had a quiet, reflective spirit, often telling a story with his eyes. He loved to spend time outside, identifying birds and their song with his dog eared bird book. As a boy, he had an affinity for the family pets, and was loved in return. He processed joys and disappointments in a steady way, much like his father. New family vehicles brought him extra excitement and one in particular, a 62 Chevy his father bought brand new made its way to Mississippi many years later. 

He dedicated his life to God at the age of 14 and was baptized in the church of God in Christ, Mennonite. Galen spent two years in Denver, Colorado in 1W service in the hospital setting. He enjoyed this time, and the reunions over the years of the friends he made there. Galen married me, Sherry Yost on February 25, 1968 in Hesston, Kansas. We enjoyed 56 years of married life. We begin our home together in Leland, Mississippi, later, moving to West Point in 1979. Our home was blessed with one daughter and four sons.

Dad did what it took to make ends meet, including a paper route and night factory cleaning when times were difficult, but his primary occupations, farming and dirt construction, kept him close to the nature that he loved.

As a family, we enjoyed the fruits of his talents for gardening and creating a beautiful yard. He enjoyed feeding and watching his birds.

Dad was a lover of good food and as a family we remember the many loving hours he spent smoking and pulling pork and then served with his special homemade sauce. He also made an amazing, homemade ice cream and loved to eat it. His last food request the day he passed was for Gran to bring him some rice crispy squares.

The faith he carried with him over the years, was evident in the quiet, gentle way most people knew him by.

His face lit up when his grandchildren were in the room, and his grace embraced us all where we were. The grandchildren have good memories of sleepovers at Papa’s house, and the stories he told, and would spin as he went along, keeping them in stitches. We are grateful for the acceptance he had of these last few years of his life, and that God graciously gave him a peaceful passing.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Sherry Wedel of West Point; his children, Shannon Wedel of Strong, Holly Roxanne Wedel of Scio, Oregon, Seth Wedel and wife Shana of West Point, Stacy Schencks of Vernon, Alabama, Gabriel Wedel of Caledonia, and Garik and wife, Kimbry of West Point; sister, Letha Schmidt and husband Eddie of Clarksdale; brother, Kennard Wedel of Miami, FL; and 15 grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents and parents in law.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Saturday March 30, 2024 at the West Point Mennonite Church in West Point, Mississippi. Interment will follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are Carson Wedel, Brock Wally, Chase Wedel, Aiden Wedel, Ryan Unruh, Ross Unruh. Honorary pallbearers will be Avery Jack Wedel, Xavier Vaughn, Hudson Wedel. Visitation will be 6-8 PM Friday at the West Point Mennonite Church.