No one has ever had so profound an effect on me than Joe.  He made me a thinking person, for which I am so grateful.  I know that he touched many others in the same way.  What a wonderful teacher and mentor.  My deepest condolences to all who loved him, and most especially to his family.

Joe was a very interesting, smart and caring person. I know he was very proud of his beautiful and smart wife and their family. I'll never forget going to Joe and Alice's wedding at the Richfield Café. As Alice would say, "it was a HOOT!" I'm glad they had so many happy years together as they were a wonderful pair. With love & friendship in this time of major loss.

Dr Wydeven was my favorite professor and I am sorry to hear of his passing.  My condolences to his family and friends.

Joe was brilliant and carried himself with an unassuming demeanor.  He contributed major scholarship on Midwestern literature and always took time to help his colleagues.  He had such savvy and was a class act!
Ron Primeau

Alice and family:

My sincere sympathy for your loss. Joe was very generous with his time to everyone he came in contact with, and I value the time he gave to me. He touched so many lives, and I am grateful to have had the chance to know him. My thoughts and prayers  are with you.

Alice, Joe was always one of my most favorite people; so are you. His persona drew people to him and warmed our hearts with his love and friendship. Our BU dinners with you and Joe will always bring smiles and happy memories. God Bless and give you strength during this difficult time. Love, John and Lynn

My mother was a student of Joe. I have many found memory's of going to visit him when my mom needed something or even  when we were at the college and I just begged to go see him. He always had a warm smile and little toys I loved to play with. 
Now as a adult I know how much Joe had to do with where my mother is now and how he inspired her. 
Thank you Joe.

Alice and family, I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Joe's passing. He was a wonderful teacher. I enjoyed the conversations we had while I was studying at Bellevue University.

Alice, I was just talking tonight about Joe and his love for photography and Wright Morris when I found a note from a MK telling me of his passing. Both of you have meant so much to me and my children as I worked my way through school at BU and even graduate school. I always think of the lovely parties and dinners at your home. Much love to all of you.
Barbara Tracy (Allen-Langdon)

My heart pours out to the Wydeven family. Working in the same office area at Bellevue University, I got to know Joe as a great dean and educator, as well as a noble friend. He loved his students and everyone around him. He will be greatly missed. God Bless and Rest in Peace, Joe. We love you.

Alice, my deepest sympathy to you and your family. I'm very fortunate to have met you and Joe through the SSML.

Alice,
I am so sorry for your loss.  I have great memories of Joe teaching our LAPA class.  I remember going into his office just to say hello and walking out an hour later feeling enlightened, frustrated, or both.  I feel blessed by knowing him.

Alice,
Words cannot express how sorry I am of Joe's passing.  What a wonderful, caring, compassionate, intelligent man he was.  I will always remember the shared lunches, dinners, and plays we all attended. We always went out to eat to celebrate our mutual birthdays. Joe loved my key lime pie! We had a mutual love of the Green Bay Packers, and talked a lot of football.  I will especially remember the huge catfish Joe caught when we were all fishing, and he couldn't take it off the hook.  We laughed about that for years. He will be greatly missed and I am a better person for knowing him and Alice.  Our deepest sympathies.
Carol and Webster Bell

I had the distinct honor to learn from Dr. Joe.  He both inspired and challenged aside from being one of the best people I have ever had the honor to know.  The world will be less interesting without him but fortunately the beneficiary of his amazing legacy

I was stunned to hear the news of Dr. Joe's passing. He was great to work with. I worked at BU from 1987 to 1997. He was an awesome professor as well as a great Dean. My sympathy to his wife, Alice and their children.

Alice and family,

Joe was an incredible teacher and person.  He left his  imprint on my life. I am the lucky one for knowing him.

Ellen Fabian Brokofsky

Alice,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am so sorry to hear of Joe's passing.  Joe was such an inspiration and mentor to me as a young faculty member at Bellevue University.  Joe's leadership and insights to the "higher calling" of higher education was so inspiring.  Joe will always be remembered as one of the most admirable colleagues I have ever worked with.  God Bless, Kevin Schieuer & family

Alice,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am so sorry to hear of Joe's passing.  Joe was such an inspiration and mentor to me as a young faculty member at Bellevue University.  Joe's leadership and insights to the "higher calling" of higher education was so inspiring.  Joe will always be remembered as one of the most admirable colleagues I have ever worked with.  God Bless, Kevin Schieuer and family

Alice, we are so sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Joe was one of the very best men I have ever known. He was a wonderful boss and friend. We will remember him fondly forever.

I was a student of Dr. Joe's at Bellevue University and we quickly became friends as well. I discovered soon after meeting him that underneath his crusty and curmudgeony exterior lay a wonderful teacher and an even better friend. We stayed in touch after I graduated and had lunch every couple of months, times with him that I enjoyed very much and will miss greatly. He touched countless lives through his teaching and by his example. Goodbye my friend. You will be missed.

Alice and family, Joe and I butted heads a lot when I was taking courses from him, but I always had the greatest respect for him. One incident I still remember was when I graduated with my Bachelor's. After the ceremony, Joe gave me a huge hug. A simple gesture, but it spoke volumes. Thank you, Joe, for everything, and may you rest in peace.

OBITUARY

Joseph J. Wydeven

August 31, 1940 – March 27, 2013

Kahler-Dolce Mortuary

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