Kenneth Frederick Wiedemann

Kenneth Wiedemann, 92, of Pine City, passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 surrounded by his family, after a brief stay at Lakeside Assisted Living. He was born August 24, 1921, to Otto and Augusta Wiedemann at the family farm six miles east of Pine City.  Kenneth attended primary school at the Milburn Country School, a mile or so from home, and then continued on at Pine City High School, graduating in 1939.  It was at the Milburn School where he met the love of his life, Alva Fogt, the teacher at that time.  They would later be married in September of 1944.  After graduating and working on the family farm, he eventually traveled to California with his sister, Eleanor, to look for employment.  There he worked as an airplane mechanic at the Sacramento Air Depot for 2 years. He would later enlist in the US Army in 1942, enrolling in the Army/Air Force Cadet School.  Second Lieutenant Kenneth Wiedemann was a B-25 Twin Engine Pilot Instructor, logging over 3,000 flying hours. He would tell stories of how he loved to fly above the clouds and how safe he felt in his airplane. After he was discharged from the US Army in November of 1945, he and Alva moved from Texas to Lewis, Wisconsin, where he learned the refrigeration business. In 1948 they moved back to Pine City to purchase the Surge Milking Machine store with Otto (his father), later expanding into plumbing, heating and refrigeration, rural/residential well service and selling Maytag appliances. Kenneth worked at Wiedemann Appliance well into his seventies taking care of his many loyal customers, usually being only a phone call away. His job earned him many friends and high respect for his skills as a repairman. By 1956 the Wiedemann family had grown to six children. His numerous talents allowed him to build his house on Cross Lake with an occasional vacation with nothing more than an army tent in the back of a station wagon and six kids. Kenneth had many interests, he was a talented woodworker and photographer, but most of all an all-around handyman. Kenneth loved to travel whenever he could find the time.  Nature was top on his list, usually having an animal or bird story to share.  He kept the birds (and an occasional bear) well-fed outside his picture window. Dad was always there to help us with his time and talents, we always knew he could find a way to fix anything and usually did. He took time to do the crossword puzzles torn from the daily papers right up to his last week. Ken was a patient caring man, teaching and guiding us through his good example. His great sense of humor was there until the end, always giving us something to smile about and to carry on into our own lives.  Kenneth, Dad, we miss you already and always. Ken is survived by his children: John Wiedemann of Pine City, Mary Jo Cavallin and her husband John of St. Croix Falls, WI, Tom Wiedemann and his wife Linda of Rock Creek, Ellen Wiedemann and her husband Karl Lamm of Le Sueur, James Wiedemann and his wife Barbara of Pine City, Emillie Fedie and her husband Roger of Young America, 12 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, sisters: Adrianne Hejny and her husband Dan of Pine City, Lorraine Rohweder and Jim Amberg of Montana. He is preceded in death by his wife Alva, parents Otto & Augusta (Engler) Wiedemann, grandson Carl Wiedemann, brother Roland Wiedemann, sister Eleanor Timmerman. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 30th with a visitation from 9:30-11:00 a.m., all at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Pine City. Interment will be in Birchwood Cemetery in Pine City at a later time. Arrangements are with the Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel. www.funeralandcremationservice.com