Wendell A. Maxwell

Wendell A. Maxwell, Jr., 78, of Pocatello, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, after an unexpected injury/illness. He fought valiantly, but he decided to go on another journey. He was always a detail-oriented planner, so he must have decided it was time for another adventure.

He was born in Twin Falls, Idaho on May 22, 1945, and was raised in the Burley, Idaho area. He attended schools there and also assisted his parents with the farm, meat packing business, and restaurant.

Wendell enlisted in the US Navy and was deployed to Vietnam. He served in the Seawolves Squadron 3/HELATKTRON-3 Seawolves (detachment) as a helicopter pilot/gunner. The Seawolves had 9 detachments overall, so the reunions were a big military get-together. He served active duty from 1966 to 1970. He was very proud to be a part of that military family and he attended all their reunions until 2021 and I’m sure was planning for the next one.

After an honorable discharge in 1970, he came back home to pursue a college education and majored in accounting. Wendell was employed at Fawson’s Music during that time. He was a television and electronic repairman. He went on to work for, and later retired from, AMI (American Microsystems, Inc.,) which is now ON Semiconductor. He had various positions there and was a manager at the end of his 30+ year career there.

As a young man, he enjoyed trips to Redfish with his family, first going with his parents and then starting the tradition with his daughters and family later in life.

He always had a fondness for classic cars, which developed into a passion for finding and restoring them and the finished products were stunning. He enjoyed being a part of the Reflections Car Club and attended every show that he was able to over the years.

Wendell enjoyed visiting the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa, Idaho. He volunteered to help with the Veterans Breakfast that they have there every November. He incorporated his oldest daughter, and his only great granddaughter to participate and wonderful memories were made. He donated his as well as his dad’s military memorabilia to the museum where they are currently on display.

He loved watching Barrett and Mecum Car Auctions and drag racing during racing season. He loved watching the Hallmark Channel also, but loved action/war movies as well.

Wendell is survived by his daughters, Stephanie Harmison and Nicole Maxwell, and a granddaughter and great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Wendell Averett Maxwell, Sr. and Gertrude Maxwell, grandson, Kory Harmison, and other family members.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Stephanie at Portneuf Medical Center. His nurse, Alan, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, and the transport company, Acute Rescue, for their services transporting our father back to Pocatello last week.

He was briefly cared for at Quinn Meadows. We would like to especially thank Christine, RN, Dr. Fenstermaker, Lori, RN, and Michelle, RN for their compassion and delicate handling of our father and us.

We would also like to thank Reflections Car Club members for being in contact at this difficult time as well as other family and friends.

Thank you to Amy and Crystal at Wilks Funeral Home for your guidance, patience and graciousness and to the gentlemen who took care of him from the nursing facility to the funeral home.

Military honors will be performed in Twin Falls, Idaho at a later date. A Celebration of Life will also be planned at a later date also, undetermined location.