Cletus Eugene Wiederholt

Cletus E. “Clete” Wiederholt, 79 years old, died on Friday, May 5, 2023, peacefully at home surrounded by his family, in Baldwin City, Kansas.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1:00 P.M., Friday, May 12, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ottawa.

A Rosary will be said at 5:30 P.M., Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa, Kansas followed by a family visitation.

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Clete was born on Saturday, November 13, 1943, in Clyde, Missouri, the son of Leo Robert, Sr. and Catharine Anna (Gast) Wiederholt.

He graduated from Princeton High school of Princeton, Kansas with the class of 1961. He lived twelve years in Ottawa, Kansas, eighteen years in Eudora and moved to Baldwin City in 1996. Clete served six and half years in the Kansas Army National Guard, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He was a member of the Ferguson Tractor Organization and the Ferguson Enthusiasts of North America.

On Saturday, February 5, 1966, he was united in marriage with M. Maureen Walsh in Lawrence, Kansas. She survives of the home. He often bragged that she is the love of his life.

Clete is preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Catharine Wiederholt; sister, Dorothy Yozwiak; brother, Ralph C. Wiederholt; son-in-law, William Lewis Crowe; grandson Wyatt Michael Wiederholt; brother-in-law, Dick Peterson and Charles John Fitzgerald; and sister-in-law, Kay Wiederholt.

He is survived by his siblings, Leo Wiederholt (Mary), Philip Wiederholt, Maurice Wiederholt (Donna), Francis “Fran” Wiederholt (Hazel), Lovina Fitzgerald-Stephenson (Ken), and Rosemary Peterson. He is also survived by his children, William J. “Bill” Wiederholt of Baldwin City, Kansas, James D. “Jim” Wiederholt (Lisa) of Wellsville, Kansas, Michael A. “Mike” Wiederholt (Angie) of Edgerton, Kansas, Laura K. “Lou” Crowe of Eudora, Kansas; his grandchildren, Dustin Crowe (Danielle), Devan Shutts (Derrick), Cody Pattison, Amber Wiederholt, Maxwell Wiederholt (Stephanie Cooper), Tyler Crowe (Ashley Miles), Samantha “Sammie” Wiederholt, Hayley Adamson (Chandler), Sean “Art” Gaeta (Jennifer), Kyle Stambaugh (Josie), Taylor Stambaugh (Hannah), and Trenton Stambaugh (Maddie); seventeen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, along with many nephews and nieces.

Clete worked for Pepsi as a route salesman for sixteen years. He also worked for Frito Lay for twenty-one years as a route salesman. He retired from Frito Lay in 1999. In January 2000, he started to work for the USD 348 in Baldwin City, Kansas, for ten years.

He enjoyed many things. Clete was a family man, enjoyed spending time watching his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids play. He enjoyed his life living on the farm caring for his cows, haying season, and his many tractors. Clete loved going on road trips with his wife, Maureen, on their motorcycle in their younger years. He also loved to collect classic cars and Ferguson tractors. Clete was always ready to tell silly stories to all the kids and spoil them with tractor rides. He had a very compassionate heart and loved his family and all his animals.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Good Shepard Hospice c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.

After the Mass of Christian Burial, family and friends are invited to the farm for a celebration lunch.