Wendell Sheriff

Wendell O. Sheriff, 88, of Greenfield, passed away Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at Caring Acres Nursing and Rehab in Anita. Visitation will be held 2-7 p.m., with family greeting friends from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, at Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield. Private family burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery at a later date. The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the Wendell Sheriff Memorial Fund, to be established by the family at a later date. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Wendell Orlie Sheriff was born Jan. 24, 1935, the first son of Orlie James and Gertrude Helen (Brown) Sheriff in rural Adair County, Union Township, near Zion. Wendell was raised in the Zion and Hebron area. He attended kindergarten through third grade in Zion, fourth through eighth grade in Grand River and rejoined the class in Zion as a freshman, driving the neighborhood children to school. He graduated at the top of his class of seven from Zion Consolidated School in 1953.

He was inducted into the Army on April 2, 1957, in Des Moines at age 22. He completed all of his training at the same post, same division and unit in Fort Lewis, Washington, making Private First Class Jan. 23, 1958. He departed from the port of Fort Whittier, Washington, January 1958, to complete cold weather training in Alaska, returning to Seattle in March 1958. While serving in the Army, he received the Good Conduct Medal.

Upon returning to Iowa while on leave, he was introduced to Judy Folk by mutual friends. On June 19, 1960, they married at the First Christian Church in Adel. To his union two children were born: Susanne and Jim.

Wendell farmed with his father, Orlie, brothers, Clifford and Bruce and later his son, Jim, raising cattle and pigs and growing soybeans and corn. He was a salesman for Funk’s G Seed Corn. Later, he drove truck, working for Schildberg Construction Company and Rose Acre Farms and then was an over the road truck driver.

In 1971, Wendell began to take flying lessons, obtaining his private pilot’s license eight months later. He continued lessons completing the necessary course work and flying time for a commercial pilot’s license and instrument rating, He was a member of the Flying Farmers of Iowa.

Wendell was active in the community being a YMCA Indian Guide leader, a member of the Optimist Club and the Greenfield United Methodist Church and served on the Adair County Board of Supervisors involving various boards and committees from Jan.1, 1979 to Dec. 31, 1983. One proud accomplishment was being elected as a delegate to the Iowa Republican Convention.

He was preceded in death by his wife Judy; parents, Orlie and Gertrude Sheriff; parents-in-law, Clair and Ellen (Poffenberger) Folk; brother, Clifford Sheriff; sister-in-law, Nadine Cottle Ashmore and brother-in-law, George Cottle.

He is survived by daughter, Susanne Sheriff and fiancé Arvell Sherrard of Greenfield; son, Jim Sheriff (Misty Fitzgerald) of Greenfield; two grandchildren, Alexis and Trenten; brother, Bruce (Gerry) Sheriff; sister-in-law, Eileen Sheriff of Greenfield; brother-in-law, Don Folk of Cedar Rapids; other relatives and friends.

The family of Wendell Sheriff express their gratitude for all the acts of kindness shown to them in their time of sorrow. With special appreciation to the devoted and caring staff at Caring Acres Nursing and Rehab.