Willis Rhinhardt Krummel

Willis Rhinhardt Krummel, the son of Rhinhardt and Hilda (Rock) Krummel, was born on January 18, 1934, on Sleepy Hollow Farm in rural Avoca, Iowa. He attended Pleasant #7 country school, which was located one mile from his home. He graduated from Avoca High School in 1952. After graduation, Willis worked with his father on the farm, and after harvest in 1954, began working at the Conoco Gas Station in Avoca. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in February, 1956, and served until he received a medical discharge in July of the same year. Willis married JoAnn Johannsen on November 30, 1958, in Walnut, Iowa.

Willis was employed by Stempel Implement in Oakland, Iowa, before forming a farming partnership with his father. He purchased the family farm in 1984, and the couple retired and built a home in Avoca in 1999.

Willis was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, where he had served on the Church Council for seven years, three of them as president. He had been a choir member since high school, a member of the Men’s Trinity Breakfast Club, and had served on several committees within the congregation. Willis was a member of the American Legion Post #227 – Avoca, and had served as a township trustee and as the president of the Sports Booster Club in Avoca. He had been a member of the County Extension Council and was an Avoca Good Guys volunteer.

Willis enjoyed golfing and loved to play cards and visit with friends and family. He and JoAnn tried to follow all the grandchildren’s sports and music activities. They enjoyed camping in addition to spending many summers with their family at Okoboji. Willis liked to listen and dance to polka music.

Willis R. Krummel died on Thursday, May 24, 2007, at the Oakland Manor in Oakland, Iowa, at the age of 73 years, 4 months, and 6 days.

Willis was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his wife, JoAnn Krummel of Avoca, Iowa; his mother, Hilda Krummel of Avoca, Iowa; one daughter, LuAnn (Richard) Jensen of Shelby, Iowa; three sons, John (Debbie) Krummel of Red Oak, Iowa, Michael (Lesley) Krummel of Walnut, Iowa, and Bruce (Doreen) Krummel of Avoca, Iowa; his parents-in-law, Norman and Zelda Johannsen of Harlan, Iowa; three sisters, Bonnie Kardell of Avoca, Iowa, Myrna (Melvin) Nelsen of Shelby, Iowa, and Shirley Fritz of Council Bluffs, Iowa; one brother, Delbert (Delores) Krummel of Hancock, Iowa; ten grandchildren, Justin (Angie) Jensen, Amber (Jon) McGreevy, Cody Jensen, Brandon Krummel, Matthew Krummel, Jordan Krummel, Lacey Krummel, Brittney Krummel, Jason Krummel, and Cassandra Krummel; three great-grandchildren, Jonas Jensen, Korbin Jensen, and Ava McGreevy; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 29, 2007, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa, with Pastor Dennis Reich. Shirley Pattee served as the organist, and vocalists were Amber McGreevy and Lesley Krummel. Honorary casket bearers were Clarence Harder, Darwin Warner, Wallace Pattee, Bob Brendle, Ernie Hogeland, and Woody Woodworth. Active casket bearers were Jordan Krummel, Jason Krummel, Justin Jensen, Cody Jensen, Brandon Krummel, and Matthew Krummel. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca, Iowa, with military rites provided by the American Legion Post #227. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan was in charge of the arrangements.