J. Denver Wiebe, Staplehurst, recently passed away in Lincoln, at the age of 86.
He was born to parents Julius and Susan Wiebe in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada. Denver attended school in Steinbach and played hockey for various teams. In his younger years, he was a prolific goalie for the Steinbach Huskies Hockey Club of the Hanover-Taché Hockey League, and after playing, he coached the Huskies. He was a heavy construction equipment mechanic his entire professional life, first working for Brandt Construction (Steinbach and Lincoln) and later with Ideus Construction and Land Construction. Denver immigrated to Nebraska when Brandt’s moved the company to build many of the Salt Valley lakes for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but remained a lifelong Canadian citizen. He was a past member of the Staplehurst Men’s Community Club and Our Redeemer Lutheran School Board. Denver also served as a firefighter/emergency medical technician and fire chief of the Staplehurst Volunteer Fire Department. He was an active member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Denver’s favorite past times included camping, fishing, tinkering in the garage and car races, highlighted by trips to the Indianapolis 500 and the Knoxville Sprint Car Nationals.
He is survived by his wife of more than 61 years, Doris; children, Curtis (Lincoln), Brad and Julie (Norfolk), Scott and Tammy (Lincoln); 12 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; Julius and Susan (Steinbach); and brothers, Harvey (Winnipeg) and Harold (Steinbach).
The funeral service was June 2 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Staplehurst. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Staplehurst Volunteer Fire Department. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.volzkefuneralhome.com.
