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Donald Lee Wendt
1942 - 2012
Donald Lee Wendt, 69 yr. 10 mo. 9 days, traded his weary diseased earthly body for a new and glorious one to be with his Lord and Savior at 3:50 a.m. Friday, February 17, 2012. He had fought a long and hard battle with lymphoma but lost his war in the end. He is sadly missed by his beloved wife, Judy, and family. He was born in Herington, Kan. April 9, 1942, to Sylvester and Marie Papenhaus Wendt who preceded him in death. He has one surviving sister, Jeannine (Wendt) Matthews Bidelman. He spent most of his childhood on a farm near Valley Falls, Kan. and enjoyed participating in 4H and FFA projects. He graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1960.
He married Judy (Kumm) Wendt June 9, 1962, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in
Leavenworth. They had three children: Eric Lee Wendt, Kevin Alan Wendt, and Laura Christine (Wendt) Bagunu.
He proudly served in the USAF from August, 1960 until August, 1964, then
worked for Greenville Head and Block for about a year in Mississippi. He also worked for Martin Tractor Co., Sutter Brothers Construction, J.F. Denney Plumbing, the U.S. Penitentiary, KPL/Westar Energy, and various construction companies, as well as having his own bulldozing business for several years. He had been a member of Plumbing Local #8, and Heavy Equipment Operators Local #101. He had a lifelong love of tractors and heavy machinery, especially Caterpillars. He collected toy tractors and Caterpillars and spent many hours building model tractors and bulldozers, as well as detailed 1/16 scale barns. He also welded several metal sculptures, and wrote some poetry.
Don served his church as an Elder and Cantor some years ago, and sang solos
various times. He enjoyed helping and visiting with his friends at the unofficial Retired Guys Coffee Group many mornings.
He leaves to mourn his passing his wife Judy, his sons, Eric (& Diana) Wendt,
Kevin (& Rebecca) Wendt, and daughter Laura (& Dan) Bagunu, grandchildren K.Luke Wendt, Dylan Wendt, Jacqueline Wendt, Andrea Wendt, Gabrielle Bagunu, Calata Bagunu, Madison Charron, Aaron Charron, Austin Charron, and Aiden Wendt, and sister Jeanie (& Wiley) Bidelman, brothers & sisters-in-law Allan & June Kumm, Sharon & Larry Dedeke, many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was a wonderful and loving husband, father, and grandfather, brother and
son and a caring and thoughtful person to everyone he met.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Damian Snyder and Pastor Ken
Nettling on Ash Wednesday as a reminder of the great price paid for his and our sins, February 22 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 10th Ave. & Thornton for a celebration of his life. Visitation will also be at Trinity Lutheran Church Tuesday, February 21, from 6-8 p.m.
Memorials may be sent to Grace Lutheran Church, 3333 Wood Ave. K.C.KS or
the Salvation Army, or a charity of your choice in honor of Don’s life.
Donald Lee Wendt
1942 - 2012
Donald Lee Wendt, 69 yr. 10 mo. 9 days, traded his weary diseased earthly body for a new and glorious one to be with his Lord and Savior at 3:50 a.m. Friday, February 17, 2012. He had fought a long and hard battle with lymphoma but lost his war in the end. He is sadly missed by his beloved wife, Judy, and family. He was born in Herington, Kan. April 9, 1942, to Sylvester and Marie Papenhaus Wendt who preceded him in death. He has one surviving sister, Jeannine (Wendt) Matthews Bidelman. He spent most of his childhood on a farm near Valley Falls, Kan. and enjoyed participating in 4H and FFA projects. He graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1960.
He married Judy (Kumm) Wendt June 9, 1962, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in
Leavenworth. They had three children: Eric Lee Wendt, Kevin Alan Wendt, and Laura Christine (Wendt) Bagunu.
He proudly served in the USAF from August, 1960 until August, 1964, then
worked for Greenville Head and Block for about a year in Mississippi. He also worked for Martin Tractor Co., Sutter Brothers Construction, J.F. Denney Plumbing, the U.S. Penitentiary, KPL/Westar Energy, and various construction companies, as well as having his own bulldozing business for several years. He had been a member of Plumbing Local #8, and Heavy Equipment Operators Local #101. He had a lifelong love of tractors and heavy machinery, especially Caterpillars. He collected toy tractors and Caterpillars and spent many hours building model tractors and bulldozers, as well as detailed 1/16 scale barns. He also welded several metal sculptures, and wrote some poetry.
Don served his church as an Elder and Cantor some years ago, and sang solos
various times. He enjoyed helping and visiting with his friends at the unofficial Retired Guys Coffee Group many mornings.
He leaves to mourn his passing his wife Judy, his sons, Eric (& Diana) Wendt,
Kevin (& Rebecca) Wendt, and daughter Laura (& Dan) Bagunu, grandchildren K.Luke Wendt, Dylan Wendt, Jacqueline Wendt, Andrea Wendt, Gabrielle Bagunu, Calata Bagunu, Madison Charron, Aaron Charron, Austin Charron, and Aiden Wendt, and sister Jeanie (& Wiley) Bidelman, brothers & sisters-in-law Allan & June Kumm, Sharon & Larry Dedeke, many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was a wonderful and loving husband, father, and grandfather, brother and
son and a caring and thoughtful person to everyone he met.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Damian Snyder and Pastor Ken
Nettling on Ash Wednesday as a reminder of the great price paid for his and our sins, February 22 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 10th Ave. & Thornton for a celebration of his life. Visitation will also be at Trinity Lutheran Church Tuesday, February 21, from 6-8 p.m.
Memorials may be sent to Grace Lutheran Church, 3333 Wood Ave. K.C.KS or
the Salvation Army, or a charity of your choice in honor of Don’s life.
