- Wendell Kreder, Sr.
August 17, 1927 - May 12, 2013
Wendell D. Kreder Sr., 85, of Jefferson died Sunday at the Mennonite Home in Albany. He was born in Mexico, Missouri to Carl H. Kreder and Minnie O. Fisher Kreder. In 1935 his family moved to Oregon settling in the Carlton/ McMinnville area.
In 1947 he married Dorothy M. Druliner. They started their life together on a farm in Carlton. Soon 2 sons and a daughter joined the family.
Throughout his career Wendell was uncompromising in the details of his work. Wendell was truly a visionary and an entrepreneur.
Wendell moved his family to Independence in 1964, soon after he began to grow peppermint, being an irrigated crop and part of his new farm being dry land he built what is referred to as the Wendell Kreder Reservoir in Polk County (which can be seen on the internet) for the purpose of irrigating 150 acres. In 1974 on a newly purchased property in Jefferson he was among one of the first farmers to utilize Center Pivot Irrigation in the Willamette Valley.
As his career continued Wendell became involved in all facets of the peppermint industry, including the propagation and sales of peppermint roots, and introduction and manufacturing of portable peppermint distilleries throughout Oregon. Later in his working years he represented a Mid Western Company as a field representative for contracting, purchasing, receiving and shipping peppermint oil from the Willamette Valley.
Survivors include his wife Dorothy; children Wendell (Butch) Jr. of Jefferson, and Linda Westbrook and Jeffery Kreder of Albany; six grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; sisters Ilene Hougham of Yreka, Ca. and Ruby Lucas of Medford Or. A brother, Carl H. Kreder Jr., and sisters Marjorie Spooner and Myrtie Mehlhoff preceded him in death.
Viewing will be from 4-6pm Thursday at Fisher Funeral Home, and a memorial service will be at 11am Friday at Talbot Community Church. Private interment will be at Willamette Memorial Park. Online condolences for the family may be posted at www.fisherfuneralhome.com.
Published in Statesman Journal on May 15, 2013
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1927 - 2013 (85 years)
