Wendal Munson

Wendal Munson, 94, of Kankakee, died Saturday (July 5, 2008) at the Miller Center. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee, and from 9 a.m. Thursday at the Aroma Park United Methodist Church, until the 10 a.m. services. The Rev. Jim Williams will officiate.Burial will follow in Beaver Cemetery, Donovan. Memorials may be made to the Aroma Park United Methodist Church or to Hospice of Kankakee Valley.He was born May 15, 1914, to Fred and Anna Anderson Munson on the Munson family farm northeast of Donovan. As a young boy, he and his brother, Wilbur Munson, walked across the section approximately one mile to the one-room country grade school named Salem School. He graduated from Donovan High School in 1931. Wilbur and Wendal farmed together many years as Munson Brothers Farms.While playing baritone for the Morocco Boy Scout Band, Wendal met his future wife, Jean Hafstrom, in 1936. Jean was temporarily playing drums for a band member on vacation. On May 4, 1940, Wendal married Jean in Morocco, Ind. Together they started a lifelong commitment of 48 years to each other on a farm located in the Swedish community of Beaver. Wendal was preceded in death by his devoted wife, Jean, in December 1988.Wendal was an avid trapper and hunter of the Beaver Creek area. Wendal also worked for the ASCS office in Watseka, as a corn, wheat, and soil bank supervisor for Iroquois County. Wendal retired from General Foods, Gravy Train Division, Kankakee.He and his wife, Jean, wintered in Mesa, Ariz., for 32 years. His interests included traveling, camping, woodcarving, playing croquet and volunteering at nursing homes. He was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Through the years he was always part of his grandchildren's activities and the family's special occasions. Wendal was a 64-year Mason, member of the Iroquois County Historical and Genealogical societies, and the Kankakee County Historical Society.He is survived by two children: one daughter and son-in-law, Donna and David Kendregan of Bradley; one son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Marcy Munson of Boulder, Colo.; four grandchildren, Mike (Joan) Munson of Superior, Colo., Chris (Jennifer) Munson of Longmont, Colo., Scott (Regan) Kendregan of Bourbonnais, Sherry (Brian) Good of Conifer, Colo.; and 11 great-grandchildren, Calvin, Noah, Isabelle, Christopher, Natalie and Josie Munson, Caleb and Aaron Kendregan, Anna Lynne, Joren and Katrin Good. Also surviving are one brother and two sisters-in-law, Wilbur and Berniece Munson of Donovan, Dorothy Hafstrom of Sacramento, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Munson is preceded in death by two brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law, Ivan Hafstrom, and Jack and Mary Ann Hafstrom.

Wendal Munson

May 15, 1914 - July 5, 2008