Harold Tell, 84 of Wakefield, NE

Wakefield resident Harold Tell closed his telegraph key for the last time on Monday, May 26, 2014 at Providence Hospital in Wayne, Nebraska, he was 84 years old. Funeral services for Harold will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Wakefield; Pastors Kelly Johnston and Dave Rusk will be officiating. The visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Bressler ~ Munderloh ~ Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield. Starting at 7:00 p.m. the family invites everyone to the Wakefield Railroad Museum to share in a celebration of Harold’s life. Burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery, with the American Legion Post #81 presenting military honors. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Wakefield Heritage Organization and the C&NW Historical Train Depot in Wakefield.

Harold was born December 6, 1929 to the late John A. and Maude M. (Mullenberg) Tell. He grew up in Wakefield, graduating from Wakefield High School in 1948. Harold was confirmed in the Swedish Covenant Church. In October of 1951, Harold joined the United States Army serving during the Korean War in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. That same year, he married Anjenean R. Brock at the First Lutheran Church of Omaha, NE. To this union, six children were born, Stephen (Karen) Tell of Antioch, IL, Kenneth (Jan) Tell of Grand Island, NE, Sherylyn (Kyle) Gronert of Antioch, IL, Renee (Mike) Schubert of Clearwater, FL, and Kimberly Kay and Lorelei Mauree who preceded him in death. His wife Anjenean also precedes him in death. Harold also leaves eight grandchildren and several great grandchildren to mourn his passing.

Harold spent his career in the railroads as Liaison Officer of the Operating Division in Chicago among other management positions in railroading. After nearly four decades of “working on the railroad”, Harold retired in 1988. He and Anjenean moved to Branson, MO where he worked part-time as a Trolley Engineer with Silver Dollar City.

In 2009, Harold moved back to Wakefield where he helped convert the town’s old Chicago & Northwestern railroad depot into an amazing museum which is steeped in railroad and Wakefield history.

Harold loved fishing and taught his grandkids how to fish. He was an avid Big Red booster and loved traveling in their motor homes to the Husker games as well as visiting nearly all 50 states with Anjenean.

Harold was an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy; member of Harry S. Truman Branson/Hollister KVA. He and Anjenean were very involved in youth sports in the Chicago Northwest Suburban League. His tombstone tells it all — “73 & GN”, which in telegraph says, “Been great working with you & Good Night”.

Harold Tell