Eldred L. Wurm

Eldred L. Wurm was born November 29, 1927 on the family farm near Traer, Kansas. He attended primary school in Traer then graduated from high school in Oberlin, Kansas in 1945. He immediately joined the U.S. Navy to serve in the Pacific War Theater on the Navy destroyer U.S.S. Owens as an electrician mate. His action station was in the 5 inch gun magazine passing shell casings to his gun. He remained in the Navy after the end of the war working to decommission ships into the mothball fleet. He was injured in an electrical explosion and spent several weeks in the hospital before returning to the decommissioning work.

Upon discharge in 1946, he returned to northwest Kansas to begin work with the Kansas Department of Transportation maintaining the local highways. He married Clarice Mae Brainard in 1947. The union produced two sons, Michael J and Kent D Wurm. Eldred later began work with the Kansas Department of Agriculture covering western Kansas. Several years later, he moved to Topeka, Kansas to be responsible for the eastern section of Kansas. He took these skills to his work for the Safeway Grocery Store company, moving to the Kansas City area. In later life, Eldred and Clarice bought the McCook Greenhouse and Flower Cottage floral shop in McCook, Nebraska. He retired from the floral business but continued working, buying a farm to raise cattle and supportive crops in Jewell County, Kansas. Clarice preceded him in death in 1995. He moved to Atwood, Kansas to continue farming after marrying Lorraine Bliss in 1996. Lorraine survives at the home in Atwood.

Eldred was involved with the United Methodist Church, the American Legion, the Legion Honor Guard, the Rawlins County Museum, the Lions Club and Rotary International in McCook, Nebraska. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was proud to be an original season ticket holder to the Kansas City Chiefs when the team moved to town. Eldred served as coach and manager to both Mike and Kent's youth baseball teams. He enjoyed when the kids, grand kids, and great grand kids came to town. He would always try to get them out to a restaurant for a meal or the golf course for a quick round. Travel was important to Eldred. He took cruises to Alaska, a trip through the Panama Canal, and flew to Hawaii to see Pearl Harbor and the active volcano on the Big Island. A great thrill in his life was to go to Washington DC with both his sons and 7 other Rawlins County WW II veterans on an Honor Flight. Returning to the Garden City airport, seeing the hundreds of people lining the exit ramp, all waving American flags welcoming the veteran's home brought tears to his eyes. He attended many grand kids' weddings and great grand kids' events. Eldred found new friends to talk to wherever he went.

Eldred enjoyed riding horses, from his first horse Dolly to his last ride at age 93. Horses, Jack his dog, his cattle and farming were the loves of his life. Eldred could not resist the urge to "summons up" one of his bulls to the fence for a "talk" by pounding two cubes together to get them to come and nibble.

In his final retirement, Eldred was always available to provide transportation for family or friends to health care needs--even in the middle of the night. He and Lorraine served with Meals on Wheels. He cooked many a pot of ham and beans at local dinners. He was well known for the biscuits and gravy at the local blood drives. The annual Wurm reunion, held over Labor Day, was important to Eldred. It was hard for him to pass up an opportunity to talk to all the Wurms, old to young. He served as head organizer on several occasions.

Eldred is survived by his wife, Lorraine of the home; two sons, Michael and Cindy Wurm, Kent Wurm and Michelle Wurm; 13 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.

How do you value an individual, by the size of the farm, the number in the herd, the bushels per acre harvested, or the number of people touched by their presence? I think the last is the best judge of a person---Eldred has touched many and will be missed by all.

Eldred's visitation will be held Saturday, July 22, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at McGilley & Hoge Johnson County Memorial Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, Kansas 66204.

Graveside Service to be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 2, 2023 in Oberlin Cemetery in Oberlin, Kansas.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcgilleyhoge.com for the Wurm family.