Andrew Bruce Whannell

Andrew Bruce Whannell, the son of Hugh and Agnes (Chalmers) Whannell, was born on July 24, 1916, in Missouri Valley, Iowa. He attended country school near Missouri Valley. He farmed north of Shelby, Iowa, with his father, and also worked as a hired man. Bruce served in the U.S. Army from 1941-1945, with the 203rd Field Artillery. He landed on Omaha Beach with his unit and experienced combat on June 11, 1945, five days after D-Day. On December 28, 1945, he married Mildred Leah Buck at the Presbyterian Church in Shelby. The couple farmed south of Shelby until 1959, when they began farming near Harlan, Iowa. They moved to their current farm place located east of Harlan in 1969. In recent years, Bruce had to retire from farming because of poor health.

Bruce was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Harlan, Iowa, and the Shelby (Iowa) American Legion Post #240. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, and playing pool at the Harlan Senior Center. Bruce was a regular at the coffee round table at Mickel’s Restaurant in Harlan. He liked to play cards, especially solitare.

A. Bruce Whannell died on Saturday, January 17, 2004, at his home in rural Harlan, Iowa, having reached the age of 87 years, 5 months, and 24 days.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Mildred Whannell of Harlan, Iowa; one son, Rex (Mary Kae) Whannell of Harlan, Iowa; one daughter, Rhonda Brown and her friend, Robert Andersen, of Harlan, Iowa; two brothers, Donald (Yvonne) Whannell of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Paul Whannell of Boone, Iowa; two sisters, Doris (Robert) McCurley of Kentucky, and Bette Grant of Omaha, Nebraska; three grandchildren, Jeanna (Brian) McCullough of Goodyear, Arizona, Jodi Brown of Omaha, Nebraska, and Andrew Brown of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 20, 2004, at the Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa, with Rev. Ed Frank of the First United Methodist Church, Harlan, officiating. Casket bearers were Jeanna McCullough, Jodi Brown, Andrew Brown, Roger McCurley, Daniel Heilig, Robert H. Buck, Paul M. Whannell, and Donald R. Whannell. Burial was in the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan was in charge of the arrangements.