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Arlyn (Arly) Lynn Waddingham

1950 - 2011

August 10, 1950 - June 29, 2011

Meservey, IA - Arlyn (Arly) L. Waddingham, 60, a lifelong farmer and resident of the rural Meservey/Klemme areas, died Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, surrounded by his loving family. Services will be on Sunday, July 3, at 3 p.m. Klemme United Methodist Church, Klemme. The Rev. Janet Rickoff-Faris and the Rev. Paddy Druhl will be officiating. Interment with full military honors provided by the Klemme Military Unit will be in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. Visitation with public viewing will be from 4-7 p.m., today at the Andrews Funeral Home, 528 East Main St., Klemme. There will be no viewing at the church, however, the family will greet friends at church from 2-3 p.m. on Sunday. Those wishing to express their sympathies though a memorial in Arly's name may wish to consider People Against Cancer, P.O. Box 10, Otho, IA 50569, or to their own choice. Arly was also a dedicated and proud blood donor, giving several gallons over his lifetime, and his life and memory could also be honored by donors contributing blood to local drives in his memory.

Arlyn Lynn Waddingham, the son of Virgil and Irene (Dirks) Waddingham was born Aug. 10, 1950, at Mason City. Arly was raised on the family farm southeast of Klemme. He attended and graduated from Klemme High School in 1968. After returning from serving his country in the United States Army in Vietnam, he continued farming and raising cattle. He was united in marriage to Nola Blank on Dec. 20, 1975, at her mother’s home in Belmond. Together they had two sons, Tory and Tully, who will continue to farm the land. Arly and Nola were faithful attendees of the Klemme United Methodist church, and on special occasions brought their grandchildren Ashton, Zoey, and Tessa. Arly also enjoyed trips to the casino, watching Twins games, having coffee with friends, and taking spur-of-the- moment vacations with his family. He truly enjoyed times spent in the presence of his children and grandchildren. He was a devoted husband, nurturing father, and loving grandfather.

Arly felt honored to be a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America and was a devoted member of the Klemme American Legion. He always enjoyed preparing the Klemme cemetery for Memorial Day, serving in the military funeral honors unit, and marching in the Color Guard in the Memorial Day Parade. He enjoyed conversations with both friends and strangers and was always up for a friendly but competitive game of cards with his family and buddies. He had a unique and captivating personality and a wonderful sense of humor. He was truly a farmer inside and out who enjoyed working the land, caring for his animals and reaping the bounty of the harvest and fruits of his labors.

Arly will be eternally remembered for his love of his wife, children, grandchildren, family and friends. His life and legacy will live on the the hearts and minds of his wife and life partner of nearly 37 years, Nola Waddingham; his mother Irene Waddingham; his son Tory (Meredith McWilliams) Waddingham; son Tully (Wendy) Waddingham and their three children, Ashton, Zoey, and Tessa; sister Linda (Ron) Benson; brother Lyle (Nancy) Waddinghan; four nephews: Rodney Benson, Brian Waddingham, Jamie Waddingham, and Jeff Thomson; two nieces: Lorene Cosimo and Sheri Lewis; nine great-nieces and nephews; Chelsie, Jessica, Michael, Anthony, Haley, Katie, Mackenzie, Mariah, and Victoria, and three great-great-nieces, also cousins, extended family, and countless friends and acquaintances.

He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, his father Virgil on Sept. 20, 1995, and a brother Darrel at age 2. Andrews Funeral Home, Klemme, IA.

source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 2 Jul 2011

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