Kenneth Eugene “Kork” Wurtele, age 94 of Nebraska City died February 11, 2022 at The Ambassador in Nebraska City. Kork was born July 4, 1927 near Nebraska City, the son of Georg Otto and Anna Margaretha (Bohlen) Wurtele. He attended country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Nebraska City High School class of 1944. He worked on the family dairy farm and with their Custom Wheat Harvest crew in No. & So. Dakotas, Montana, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. He married Helen Jean McKenzie August 29, 1948 in Nebraska City. Kork lived in Nebraska City his entire life. He was also part of Wurtele Implement and Wurtele Brothers Truck Stop. He left the family businesses and became owner operator of Wurtele Construction Co completing many soil conservation projects and was a partner in development of Lake WaConDa. After the construction business, he entered the food service business, owning and operating KFC and Godfather’s Pizza. Working was his hobby and he never retired. He owned and operated farms in Nebraska and Iowa, marketing his grain until January of 2022. Kork was a member of Bethel Church. He was past Exalted Ruler of Nebraska City Elks Lodge No. 1049. He was a retired member of the Nebraska City Vol. Fire Department and was a member of and F.O.E. Aerie No. 968. He was a member of the ‘One Acre Club’ at Otoe County Gun Club. He never did a thing to create a legacy, he did that thing because it made sense and was the right thing to do. He trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He will be greatly missed by his family and most keenly by his loving wife of 73 years. Survivors include his wife, Helen of Nebraska City; children, Roxanne (Steve) Adkins of Hamburg, IA and Rickey (Rebecca) Wurtele of Fort Worth, TX; daughter in law, Nancy Wurtele of Nebraska City; sister in law, Berniece Bonebrake of Nebraska City; grandchildren, Gregory (Sandra) Wurtele, Eric (Sally) Wurtele, Christopher (Kerri) Golden, Lindsey (Webster) Farris, Clayton (Ashlie) Wurtele, Aaron Wurtele, Christopher (Christina) Adkins and Joel (Tiffany) Adkins; many great grandchildren; many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Eugene; brothers, John, Walt, Mark, Chris, Arnold, and sister, Marie Klingsick.
Private family services will be held at Marshall Funeral Chapel in Nebraska City with burial to follow at Wyuka Cemetery. There will be no visitations.
Memorials are suggested to Bethel Church or Nebraska City Fire-Rescue Fire Division.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.marshallfuneral.com.
Marshall Funeral Chapel of Nebraska City is in charge of arrangements.
