Robert “Bob” E. Wendt

                                                                                                                                                                                           

Robert “Bob” E. Wendt, 92, of
Fond du Lac, went to his heavenly home on Thursday, September 18, 2014.  He passed away in the care of his loving
family and Hospice Hope.

 

He was born on June 19, 1922,
in Pine River, Wisconsin, a son of Friedrich Wilhelm and Ella Helena Amalia Henschel
Wendt.  He was baptized on July 9, 1922
and confirmed on May 26, 1935.

 

At the age of 20, Bob entered
military service with the United States Army in the 7th Company, 290th
Infantry.  He served in Africa, Italy,
France, Sicily, Austria, Belgium, and Germany. 
He sailed on the Queen Mary from New York City to Casablanca.  He was involved in the Southern France
Invasion, Belgium Bulge, and transported officers throughout Europe, while
serving under General George S. Patton.

 

On December 8, 1946, he
married Esther A. Reetz at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neshkoro,
Wisconsin.  Shortly thereafter, they
moved to Fond du Lac where they resided all their married life. 

 

In 1956, Bob founded Wendt’s
Auto Body with his brother, Garritt.  He
always loved his occupation, retiring in 1988. During his retirement, he
enjoyed helping his wife, Esther, with her business, National Flagpole,
offering advice and help with flagpole installations. 

 

Bob was a member of Faith
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac, and served as an usher and greeter
for many years.

 

He was a member of American
Legion Trier Puddy Post 75, the Izaak Walton League for over 50 years, and a
charter member of the Fond du Lac Area Auto Body Association.  Bob participated in the Honor Flight to
Washington D.C.  He enjoyed hunting,
fishing, and traveling with his wife, Esther, gardening, Friday night fish
frys, and meeting his many friends at Boda’s for coffee.  Bob exhibited, in all he did, a love of God,
family, and his country.  His sense of
humor, optimism, and stories will continue to be treasured by many.

 

He is survived by his loving wife
of 67 years, Esther; three children: Gloria (Les) Schneider, Gary Wendt (Sally
Muehlius), and Russ ( Mary Muehlius) Wendt; six grandchildren:  Jennifer (Greg) Meltz, Kim Schneider, Chad
(Ashley) Wendt, Brett (Leslie) Wendt, Lori (Greg) Kraus and Pam (Ryan) Gross;
eight great-grandchildren:  Hannah and
Ethan Meltz, Stellan and Claesson Wendt, Ashley, Abbey, and Alex Kraus and
Kaden Gross; one brother:  Forrest D.
(Daveine) Wendt; two brothers-in-law: 
Erich Reetz of Princeton and Alvin (Sonja) Reetz of Santa Cruz, California;
four sisters-in-law: Viola Raasch of Littleton, Colorado, Edna Werth of Buhl,
Idaho, Lorraine Schultz of Fond du Lac, and Melita (Larry) Ellingson of
McCallsburg, Iowa; 32 nieces and nephews, many cousins, aunts, and friends.

 

He was preceded in death by
his parents; three brothers:  Sylvester,
Garritt, and Gordon; three sisters-in-law: 
Linda Wendt, Effie Wendt, and Arlene Wendt.

 

The funeral service will be
held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2014, at Faith Evangelical
Lutheran Church, 55 North Prairie Road, Fond du Lac, with Rev. David Haugly
officiating.

 

The visitation will be from
4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24, 2014, at Mach Funeral Chapel &
Crematory, 31 East Division Street, Fond du Lac, and on Thursday at church from
10:00 a.m. until the time of service. 

 

Burial will follow in
Ledgeview Memorial Park with military rites being conducted.

 

Memorials may be directed to
Faith Lutheran Church, Winnebago Lutheran Academy, and Hospice Home of Hope.

 

The family extends their
thanks to all Bob’s caregivers, Dr. Douglas Fownes, Dr. Punit Kumar, Pastor
David Haugly, Pastor Michael Weigand, Pastor Mark Parsons, and all the hospice
nurses and aides.

 

Mach Funeral Chapel &
Crematory is serving the family, www.machfuneralchapel.com