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Wilbur L. "Will" Wakefield, 78

Wilbur L. "Will" Wakefield, 78, died Thursday, June 26, 2014, at his home in Gramercy Park in Rochester, Minn.

A memorial service was Wednesday, July 2, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place N.W., in Rochester.

Wilbur L. Wakefield was born April 14, 1936, in Herman, to Warren and Marjorie Wakefield.

He finished eighth grade in a one-room schoolhouse as the only student in his class. He participated in many 4-H and FFA activities. He graduated from Blair High School, earned a B.S. in agriculture and taught vocational agriculture at Grand Island. He was principal of the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis.

Mr. Wakefield completed a master’s and doctorate degree in educational administration at the University of Nebraska. He then moved to Rochester as part of the University of Minnesota to start the Consortium, which became the University of Minnesota-Rochester.

He enjoyed the outdoors, all sports, fishing and hunting and, especially, his two granddaughters, Sarah and Nicole Seymour.

He is survived by his wife, Diana; his daughter, Lisa (Steve) Seymour of Rochester; and son Scott of Washkish, Alaska,; two grandchildren; his sister-in-law, Pat Wakefield; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, and brother Leslie Wakefield.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Seasons Hospice.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~