John Wendel Howsden

JOHN WENDEL HOWSDEN was born the second child of Willard E. Howsden and Helen L. (Barnes) Howsden on July 28, 1933 in Alma NE. He departed this life October, 19 2015, in his home in Lincoln NE at the age of 82 years, 2 months, 21 days. Wendel graduated from Huntley High School, Huntley, NE in 1951 and studied one year at Bryan Jennings College in Dayton, TN. As a teenager, Wendel made the important decision to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Savior from sin. He was drafted into the army in 1954 and served for 2 years in Japan. Upon honorable discharge from the army, he married Mary Margaret Muir on September 29, 1956. To this union were born five children: Paul, Sandra, Roger, Mark, and Ruth. In 1964, Wendel moved his family to Canada to attend Prairie Bible Institute, graduating in 1967. He pastored a mission church with Village Missions for a year in Marlow, Oklahoma. They returned to Nebraska where Wendel faithfully served his Lord in various capacities: pastor, interim pastor, deacon, Sunday school class teacher, etc. His chief occupation was framing houses. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Helen Howsden, both in 1992, his brother Darrel in 2006 and his sister, Mrs. Edythe Kirtley in 2011. He leaves to mourn his passing, but also rejoice that his new home is with the Lord, his beloved wife Mary; three sons, Paul and wife Elaine of Lincoln NE, Roger and wife Darlene of Lincoln NE, Mark and wife Joyce of Lincoln, NE; two daughters, Mrs. Sandra Chloupek of Grandview, TN, Mrs. Ruth Whybrew and husband David of Upland, IN; one sister, Mrs. Vivian Young and husband Rodger of St. Louis, MO; one brother, Leonard and wife Anna of Kearney, NE; 15 grandchildren; and 6 great grandchildren. Because of Wendel’s commitment to the Lord, in lieu of flowers, the family would encourage those giving memorials to consider LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR PO Box 67071, Lincoln NE 68506 (Steve Janovec’s ministry to Muslims) or Cornerstone Baptist Church, 6251 Colby St, Lincoln, NE, 68505