Brian Wadsworth

Brian Wadsworth, 96, of Bondurant, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2021. Brian was born on March 30, 1925 in Chadron, NE to Maurice and Gertrude Wadsworth.

When Brian was in the navy, he married Elaine Dittmer on July 22, 1944, and was happily married for 71 years. He graduated from Colorado University in 1949 with a major in economics and in 1959, he received his master’s degree in administration. He enjoyed 20 years as an administrator, teacher, and coach. He moved to Bondurant in 1967 as the superintendant of schools. After two years in Bondurant, he started his career as a realtor with Iowa Realty. Much to his wife’s dismay, the first house he sold was his own. He then built a home in Bondurant next door to his daughter, Jenée, and remained there until he moved to Courtyard Estates in 2020.

Brian had also served as a Bondurant American Legion Post commander, and last year received an award for 75 years of continuous membership. He has been the mayor of Bondurant and was active in Lions, Masons, Shrine, Kiwanis, and the Rolling Agers.

His church, St. John’s Lutheran in Des Moines, was where you would find him on Sunday mornings, unless it was winter when he was at Victory Lutheran in Arizona. For 24 years, Brian and Elaine wintered in Mesa, Arizona, and entertained numerous guests from the “cold country”. One thing he loved about January was the car auctions in Arizona. Brian owned many antique cars and belonged to the A.A.C.A.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife, Elaine, his sons, Craig (who died at birth), and another son, Dr. Dennis Wadsworth. His memory will be cherished by his three daughters, Jenée (Allen) Ihde of Bondurant, Sharon Beerman of West Des Moines, and Diane Gray of Scottsdale, Az. He will be missed by his seven grandchildren, Barry (Sara) Wadsworth, Michael (Marianne) Ihde, Kirsten, (Andrew) Bugge, Elizabeth and Matthew Beerman, Maresa, (Tom) Ponitch and Brian Gray and his great grandchildren, Ashlyn, Breilyn and Ivy Wadsworth, Gwendolyn, Audrey, and Alison Ihde, Gage Jensen, Beatrice Ponitch, and Regan, Damien and Alessa Bugge.

Memorials may be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church or the Bondurant American Legion or Auxiliary.

Funeral services will be held 10 AM on Friday, August 6, 2021, at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th St. SW, with burial to follow at Bondurant Cemetery. The family will receive visitors at the funeral home Thursday, August 5 from 5-7 PM.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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