Wendell Royce Long, 90, of Nampa, Idaho, passed away peacefully on November 1, 2018, and now he is with Jesus. His smile and witty comments will be missed. A Funeral Service to honor and celebrate his life will be held on Monday, November 12, 2018 at 1 PM at the Karcher Church of the Nazarene, corner of Middleton and Karcher Roads.
An online guest book is available at www. nampafuneralhome.com Wendell’s parents were both teachers as well as involved in farming in Kansas and NE Colorado. Wendell was born September 17, 1928 in Kirk, Colorado, to Chester and Ethel Long.
He was their second child. Geren was his older brother and Harold and Carolyn (Miller) were younger. At age 5 Wendell started school in Canon City, Colorado.
After the family moved to Oregon, he attended the Poison Creek rural school getting there on foot or on horse. He entered high school at age 12 and graduated from Burns High School. Wendell, 16 now, went on to Northwest Nazarene College where a Harley-Davidson motorcycle took the place of a horse.
Here he met his sweetheart, Vi Calkins. They were married September 5, 1949 in Grants Pass, OR; completing 68 years together. They had six children.
Dave (Carol) Long, Marilyn (Dean) Sprenger, Connie (Mike) Nordman, Charles (Kay) Long, Jerry (Jana) Long, and Brenda (Dave) Doerksen. His wife, Vi passed away on September 22, 2017. Wendell is survived by his 5 children and their spouses, Dave and Carol Long; Connie3 and Mike Nordman; Charles and Kay Long; Jerry and Jana Long and Brenda and Dave Doerksen; a brother, Harold; a sister, Carolyn; 5 children; 16 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
Wendell was also preceded in death by his daughter, Marilyn Sprenger and a brother, Geren. During his youth he worked in a dairy operation, haying, and at the Hines Saw Mill. In summer of’44 & ’45 it was the pea harvest and wheat harvest in Walla Walla with his brothers.
Now married he went on to Oregon State University for 3 years studying industrial arts leading to starting his teaching career in Dallas,Oregon. After 7 years instructing woodshop class at the Junior High level, he moved his family to Nampa, Idaho, for a position at Nampa Christian High School. There for the better part of 3 decades he taught woodshop, metal shop, Spanish and bookkeeping.
He supplemented his income on weekends and vacation time by doing flooring and countertop installations. He was faithful in Bible study and prayer and applying it to his life. Many notes were taken from sermons and anything inspiring to keep his mind and soul healthy.
His serving hands were his means of expressing his faith in Jesus Christ. Since retirement, Vi and Wendell volunteering in various ways became a priority-local church, camps (especially Trinity Pines), support projects in Ukraine, Argentina, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, Maui and Mexico. The adventurous duo traveled the United States in their RV for about seven years aiding Christian summer camps and schools with cleaning, organizing and construction projects.
We want to extend a thank you to Streamside Assisted Living and Heart & Home Hospice for their excellent care. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 173, Nampa, Idaho 83653.
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