Walter J. Wendt

Wendt, Walter J.
Appleton

Age 92, passed away in Appleton on Monday, May 03, 2004. He was born in the Town of Grand Chute on October 15, 1911, son of the late Henry and Bertha (Schroeder) Wendt. On August 8, 1946 he married Leona Schwab in Appleton. She preceded him in death on November 9, 1994. Walter was a faithful member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Appleton. He graduated from Bowlby’s Business College in Appleton. Walter was employed by North American Seed Company for 10 years in Milwaukee before entering the Army during WWII where he served in Belgium, England, and France. During the Battle of the Bulge he was a prisoner of war of Germany, but escaped after surviving the Malmedy Massacre where he earned the purple heart. He was then employed by the Appleton School System at the old and new Edison Schools as an engineer for many years until retiring in 1977. Walter was a member of Disabled American Veterans, and a former member of the American Legion.

Walter is survived by his children: Gerald (Beverly) Wendt of Appleton and Donald (Judith) Wendt of Neenah; a stepson: Kenneth (Gloria) Harrmann of Appleton; grandchildren: Michelle (Scott) Cartwright and their children: Nicholas and Marissa; and Jason (Fiancé, Tamara Lund) Wendt; step grandchildren: Rachel (Jay) Fredrickson and their children Cheyenne and Sierah; Rebecca (Rick) Mertens, and Ron (Melissa) Samp; special nephew, Rodney (Kathy) Wendt; and a sister-in-law, Louise Shaw. He is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.

Walter is preceded in death by his wife Leona, his parents; brothers: George and Harry Wendt; sisters: Linda Ziegler and Rose Plamann.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2004, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Appleton, with Rev. Ralph Waack officiating. Friends will be received at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial with military honors will be at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at Highland Memorial Park.

A memorial fund in Walter’s name is being established for St. Paul Lutheran Church.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staffs at Appleton Medical Center, Carolina Manor, and Franciscan Care Center for their care of Walter.

“We watched you grow so tired, Dad, with every passing day, and our hearts have grown more heavy as we saw you fade away. And then we knew the time had come for us to let you go, to say our last good-bye to you and say, “We love you so.”

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 North Superior Street
Appleton, WI 54911
(920) 739-1231