Wil grew up on a farm his father farmed near Palmer, Kansas. He attended St. John Lutheran Elementary School from 1940-48. To continue his education and career goal of becoming a Lutheran teacher, he attended Concordia High School in Seward, NE as a boarding student from 1948-52. Wil attended Concordia Teachers College in Seward from 1952-56 where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. While in college he met June Elizabeth Bader. They were united in marriage on August 5, 1956 at Zion Lutheran Church in Worms, Nebraska. After their marriage the couple moved to Spokane, Washington where they taught together at Spokane Lutheran School for two years. Their oldest Son Mark was born in Spokane. To be nearer to Wii’s parents, because his father suffered a severe heart attack while serving as a house parent at Lutheran Child Welfare in Addison, Illinois he accepted a call to teach at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Des Plaines, Illinois. He taught at Immanuel from 1958-63. Sons Timothy and Douglas were born in Des Plaines. While at Des Plaines, he earned a Master’s Degree in Education and Religion from Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois. Wil accepted a call to serve as Principal and Teacher at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School near Haven, Kansas. He served there from 1963-67. Son Paul was born in Hutchinson in 1964. Wil served as a Director of Christian Education at Bethany Lutheran Church in Overland Park, Kansas before accepting a position as Executive Secretary of Education and Youth Ministry in the Nebraska District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod in 1970. He served on the District staff for 8 years. While on the District staff, Wil received his Superintendent’s credentials in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska. He took a position with Aid Association for Lutherans in 1979 and worked at training volunteers in AAL’s Branch System. He ended his career with AAL as a District Representative in Denver. Colorado in 1995. He and June moved back to southeast Nebraska in 1995 to be close to children and grandchildren. Before retiring, Wil served as Development Director for Lincoln Lutheran Junior and High School from 1995-98. He and June were members of Messiah Lutheran Church in Lincoln where Wil served as an elder and deacon.
Wil loved doing crossword puzzles, playing golf, piloting his own aircraft, and trying to beat grandchildren playing pitch. He enjoyed watching sports and traveling to see children and grandchildren participate in football, baseball and track. He enjoyed spending time with his “Team-mate’s” mentee at Palmyra High School.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, June (2013); Son Paul (2015); brothers: Harvey and Robert; infant sister, brothers-in-law: Kenneth Duitsman, Wally Rasch, Everett Watt, Eugene Vetter, Ted Bader, David Bader, Henry Bader, Harry Bader and sisters-in-law: Florence Bader and Lois Watt, Helen Tewes and Lois Tewes.
Wil is survived by three sons, Mark and wife Debbie, Timothy and Renee, Douglas and Denise and daughter-in-law Tammy; fifteen grand-children, Tad (Jackie), Jessica (Nick), Isaac (Kylie), Kristine (Josh), Ben (Megan), Tanner, Jacob (Heather), Michael (Shelby), Luke (Kelly), Sam (Talia), Thomas, Kristina, Hope (Jon), Tristen, Katryna and fourteen great grand-children, Ella, Jude, Bode, Ezra, Noah, Emma, Caleb, Lewis, Calvin, Rose, Naomi, Gabriel, Asher and Amelia.
Worship services will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church, 1800 S. 84th Street in Lincoln on December 27 at 10:00 am.
Memorials welcome to Concordia University, Nebraska – Tewes Family Scholarship Endowment. 800 North Columbia Ave., Seward, Nebraska 68434.