Albertus E. “Bert” Wassenberg, 87, of Seneca, KS, died Wednesday, September 17, 2003, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

He was born June 28, 1916, on the Wassenberg homestead northeast of St. Benedict, KS, the son of August and Mary Ann Stegeman Wassenberg. He graduated from grade school in St. Benedict in 1930 and helped on the family farm.

In 1939 he started farming on his own northwest of Kelly and in 1949 moved to a farm northwest of Soldier. He moved to Jackson Hole, WY in 1955 where he built and operated several R.V. Parks and also worked as a fishing and hunting guide. He traveled extensively and spent his winters in the Rio Grand Valley, TX and Matazalan, Mexico. Bert had no children of his own, but his nieces and nephews were very special to him and he took them on many hunting and fishing trips. He kept a second home in St. Benedict (his parents’ house) and last year returned to Seneca to live.

On March 27, 1940, he married Anita Lohman in Maple River, IA. They were later divorced.

He was a member of Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Jackson Hole and also St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict.

Survivors are a brother, Leonard Wassenberg of Seneca, and 23 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Wilbert in 1977, Ed in 1988, and Cyril “Slim” in 1990; and two sisters, Mary, as an infant in 1912, and Amelia Sudbeck in 1991.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM Saturday at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A rosary will be prayed at 7 PM Friday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for St. Mary’s Cemetery in St. Benedict, and sent in care of the family.