Elwood Ernest “Woody” Riedemann, age 81, of Storm Lake, Iowa died Friday, July 28, 2006 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Services will be held Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Storm Lake, with Reverend Mark Youngquist officiating. Interment will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Primghar, Iowa. Full military rites will be accorded Mr. Riedemann by AMVETS Post 66 following the services at the church in Storm Lake. Presentation of the flag at the cemetery is by Primghar Post 36. Arrangements are under the direction of the Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake.

Visitation will be held for two hours prior to service time on Thursday, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the church.

Woody, the third son of Ernest and Mayme Riedemann was born on February 28, 1925 on a farm east of Primghar, Iowa. He attended rural school near his home through the 8th grade. He graduated from Primghar High School with the “Class of ’42.”

Woody was inducted into the United States Army on March 22, 1944. He service during World War II in the 134th Infantry as an Automatic Rifleman. He fought in Eastern France, into Germany and onto the Battle of the Bulge. While overseas, Woody received a Purple Heart for wounds incurred on November 24, 1944. He was discharged in time to spend Christmas 1945 at home on the farm near Primghar.

After a season of farming with his father, Woody went to work for Pixler Electric in Spencer, Iowa. While working there, he met Charlene Schoning. They married on August 23, 1947 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Woody and Charlene worked together to build their first home in Spencer. Daughters Carolyn and Sandra were born while the couple lived in Spencer. Their son, Steve, was born after the family moved to Storm Lake.

In 1955, Woody began working for Iowa Public Service in Storm Lake. He ended his career working as an electric technician dealing in substation and inter-tie metering. One of his specialties was “modifying” electrical meters, turning them into retirement lamps for many IPS employees. Woody retired in February 1987 after 32 years with IPS. In 2006, he was recognized as a 50-year member of the IBEW.

After his retirement, Woody and Charlene enjoyed traveling in “Coach” and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Woody was a master craftsman and was a founding member of the Stormy Waters Whittlers Club in Storm Lake. Although Woody won numerous awards for his wood carvings, his greatest joy was giving his creations to friends and family. Woody was a long-time member of the Storm Lake Kiwanis and most recently, the Golden K Kiwanis.

Woody was an avid NASCAR fan. Everyone knew Woody’s favorite driver by the large amount of Dale Earnhardt memorabilia he collected. He rarely missed watching a race on TV and was able to cheer Dale on in person when he attended races at Martinsville, Virginia and at Rockingham, North Carolina.

Also during his retirement, Woody “mastered” the computer and enjoyed sharing numerous e-mails, pictures and jokes with family and friends.

Woody is survived by his wife of 58 years, Charlene, of Storm Lake; daughter Carolyn (Bob) Adcock of Reidsville, North Carolina; daughter Sandra (Ed, Katie, Colleen) NcNamara of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania; son Steve (Sue, Garrett, Hannah) Riedemann of Van Meter, Iowa; brother Richard (Leora) Riedemann of Spencer, Iowa; sister Delores (Melvin) Richter of Primghar, Iowa; numerous nieces and nephews and many devoted friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Mayme, and brothers, Vernon and Gaylord.

The family requests that memorials be given to the charity of your choice in Woody’s name.

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