Thomas H. Wendt's Obituary
Thomas H. Wendt
Wild Rose, WI
Thomas H. Wendt fell peacefully asleep in his Saviors arms at home on April 17, 2014.
Tom was born in Milwaukee to Clarence and Helen (Otto) Wendt. He grew up in Milwaukee, WI until he was drafted into the Army and he served in Korea until the end of the Korean War.
After he left the Army he met and married the love of his life, Ruth Heckendorf. They married January 26th, 1957 and had 2 children, Steven and Carol.
Tom loved to learn and went back to school and graduated from the Milwaukee School of Engineering as an Industrial Engineer. He worked for General Motors in that capacity, transferring to Defiance Ohio Central Foundry in 1965.
While living in Ohio Tom was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School. He also became a founding partner in the Wendt Shoe Corporation owning and operating family shoes stores in Defiance, Ohio for 18 years until his retirement in 1985 from General Motors and selling the shoe stores in Defiance.
Tom loved to run and participated in many marathons and races, he was a member of the American Legion and joined the Country Club.
After their retirement Tom and Ruth moved to St Petersburg, Florida for the winter seasons Tom worked at the Bay Pines VA hospital as a home health aide and loved nursing so much he took classes to become a licensed nursing assistant, which he practiced in Florida and in Wisconsin during the summer months. He was employed at the Wild Rose Hospital for 9 years.
In 2009 Tom underwent quadruple bypass surgery and never fully recovered his good health. However he continued to be an active member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wild Rose, WI. He will be remembered by all who knew him for his kindness, gentleness, pride in his family and his hard work ethic which was an example for all his children and grandchildren.
Tom is survived by his wife of 57 years Ruth, his son Steve (Kathy) Wendt, his daughter Carol (Timothy) Cereghin, 5 grandchildren, Timothy Wendt, Jeremy (Alicia) Wendt, Kent (Kelly) Hahn, Kayla Cereghin, and Kimberly Cereghin, and 6 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; Clarence and Helen Wendt, Step mother; Sadie Wendt, his sister; LaVerne Mueller, and Step sister; Phyllis Pionkoski.
A memorial service will be held at A.J. Holly and Sons Funeral Home in Wild Rose, WI at 11:00 AM Wednesday, April 23,, 2014. Visitation will be from 10:00 – 11:00 AM. Military Honors followed by interment will be at the Central Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in King, WI. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Wild Rose in memory of Thomas H. Wendt. The Holly Funeral Home of Wild Rose, WI is assisting the family with arrangements.
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