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Len Tondl's career included taking aerial photos for the Navy during the Korean War, supervising Mutual of Omaha's “Wild Kingdom” TV program and overseeing the early days of Omaha's River City Roundup festival.
Tondl occasionally would travel with Marlin Perkins and Jim Fowler, the hosts of the popular 1970s Sunday evening show, sometimes in a private plane with wild animals, said his son, Matthew.
“He said you never knew when you might have a snake or a monkey or a tiger on board.”
Tondl, 76, died Monday of cancer, his son said. A funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery.
A native of Ravenna, Neb., Tondl enlisted in the Navy after high school and served from 1951 to 1954, earning the rank of photographer's mate third class. He received a bachelor's degree in business at the University of Nebraska and joined Mutual in 1957, retiring in 1988 as executive vice president and head of public relations.
After his retirement, he was executive director of River City Roundup for five years.
Other survivors include his wife of 51 years, Betty; daughter, Tracy McManus; and four grandchildren.
Contact the writer:
444-1080, steve.jordon@owh.com
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