Emil Roy Wenger's Obituary
Emil Roy (Mike) Wenger
June 16, 1928 – June 11, 2012 Wild Rose/Lodi – Emil Roy Wenger (Mike), age 83, of Wild Rose passed away peacefully on Monday, June 11, 2012 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Mike, son of Arnold and Elizabeth (Bertha) Wenger was born on June 16, 1928. He married the love of his life, Norma Jean Buchanan on Nov 16, 1950. Their marriage was blessed with five children, Mike (Terri) Sauk City, Ron (Patti) Lodi, Judy (Ken Denu) Mazomanie, Tammy (Bob Alme) Lodi, and Cheri (Chris Johnson), 13 grand children 5, great grandchildren, with 2 on the way. Mike grew up on farms in Dane and Lodi. In 1952, only two years after marrying Norma and learning of her pregnancy, he was drafted into the Army and served a combat tour in Korea with several more years in the Army Reserve. He worked at the Brethorst Bros John Deere dealership in Lodi as a mechanic. He started his own repair service in the same building when Brethhorst went out of business. His reputation for fast, dependable service and business honesty quickly spread as did the business. Mike and Norma became dealers for JI Case farm machinery during the sixties. Within five years they were honored by Case Company as the fourth largest dealer in their North American operations in a large ceremony at the Dorf Haus in Roxbury. Mike continued servicing what he sold after the dealership was moved to Poynette in 1970 until he joined Grabers in Middleton as a maintenance mechanic in 1974. Upon his retirement in 1991, Mike and Norma moved to Wild Rose and started Mike’s Crafts. In his retirement, he applied his talents to woodworking and provided his loving family members and customers with the finest hand crafted oak furniture in the world. Mike loved his family and friends first and foremost. Anyone who ever knew Mike and Norma knows theirs was a love story for the ages. Generations of family members and friends of all ages have many stories of the times he took them fishing, snowmobiling, hunting, and making fun of just being in and around the house. He came from a long line of love and leaves a legacy of love and respect for all who were privileged to know him. Mike is survived by his wife, Norma, of 62 years, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his sisters Jenny Radl and Mary Miller, brothers John and Jerry, and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, relatives, and friends. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Arnold and Bertha, his daughter Cheri, his siblings Arnold Jr, Rosie, Herman (Boots), (Margaret) Mitz, and Alvin. Friends may call on Saturday, June 16, 2012, from 11:00 to 1:00PM at the First Presbyterian church in Lodi with a memorial service to follow 1:00PM in the church.
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