Nola Mae Hegle

Nola Mae Hegle, involved in Bolivar business for 50 years with her husband Weldon, died April 19, 2018 at Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility in Bolivar. She was 87. She was born Nov. 2, 1930, in Latimer, KS to Clarence and Dora Wendt. She met Weldon Hegle in Herington, KS on Feb. 4, 1950. They married on the following New Year’s Eve and never parted until death. He often said he knew she was the girl of his dreams at first sight. Three children were born to that union, Steven Wayne, Gary Lynn and Deborah Jean. Weldon and Nola stayed on the farm four years and then moved first to Lawrence, KS and then to Kansas City and Marshall before finally settling in Bolivar in 1962, where Weldon became the manager of the Russell Newport’s Ben Franklin Store. They bought that store in 1974, renamed it Hegle’s Variety, and added the Bolivar Department Store. They operated both stores for about five years. They then started Hegle’s Woodworks and operated it until retirement in 2012 after 50 years of business in Bolivar. Nola was a homemaker in addition to being Weldon’s partner in the business. They traveled the United States together setting up shows and selling souvenirs to retailers and theme parks. They sold to businesses in all 50 states and as many as 12 other countries. Individuals and businesses throughout this area crafted many of the items they bought and then sold. Nola was a devout Christian and member of Bolivar’s Open Hearts United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir for a number of years. She also sang with the local Sweet Adelines and served as an assistant Girl Scout leader. She and Weldon were fixtures at Southwest Baptist University basketball games for many years, active in the Sixth Man Club. Besides her parents, Nola was preceded in death by her son, Steven. Survivors include Weldon; her son and daughter-in-law Gary and Veva Hegle of Bolivar; daughter Deborah Vaughn of Joplin; daughter-in-law Venus Hegle of Liberty; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ronald Wendt and wife Betty of Mozier, IL and Dennis Wendt and wife Mary of Herington, KS; and a sister, Suzan Hawkes, also of Herington. Visitation is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Monday, April 23 at Butler Funeral Home Chapel in Bolivar. Services are also there at 11a.m., with burial at Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial donations are recommended to Bolivar’s Open Hearts United Methodist Church or Southwest Baptist University.

Nola Mae Hegle

November 2, 1930 - April 19, 2018