BITUARIES Donald Wenzel
O BITUARIES Donald Wenzel
Donald C. Wenzel, age 84, of Stratford, began his walk with the Lord on July 8, 2022, after a long and courageous battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. His faith in ever-lasting life, his dedication to family and his always present good humor sustained him. A memorial mass will take place on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at St. Andrew Parish in Rozellville at 11 a.m., presided by Father Sengole Vethamanickam. Military funeral honors will be conducted by Stratford VFW Memorial Post 6352 with TAPS by Tom Hayes and Parker Empy. The family will meet guests at the church beginning at 9 a.m.
Donald, known to many as “Tiger”, was born in the family farmhouse on February 27, 1938, to Louis and Anna (Frodl) Wenzel. He attended St. Joseph Parochial School in Stratford before graduating from Marshfield Columbus High School in 1956. Upon graduation Don attended UW-Stevens Point before enlisting for duty in the Army and was stationed in Europe, where he served during the Berlin Uprising. Afterwards, he was employed by Klemme/Ulrich Feeds until retirement. Don married Rose Stockheimer, the love of his life, on August 18, 1962, and was blessed with more children than needed to field a baseball team.
Faith, family and community were instrumental in Tiger’s life, as was evident in his work as a dedicated EMT and CPR instructor with the Stratford Fire Department, Star Club youth baseball coach, Hunter’s Safety instructor, Boy Scout den leader, member of the Holy Name Society, Eucharistic Minister for elderly shut ins, and organizer of many fundraisers for St. Joseph Church and School. He has been recognized for his charitable service by being nominated for the 1975 Wisconsin Firefighter of the Year and being named the 1987 Stratford Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.
Don enjoyed being with people and would greet you with his automatic handshake (no-clutch). This was because he was never without a good joke or a story to tell, such as the time he ran into Elvis while serving in the Army. He played baseball for Stratford in the Yellow River League, never missed the opportunity to kick up his heels to a good polka, and enjoyed photography, hunting and fishing. Later in life he could be found at area farmer’s markets selling homemade jelly and produce with his beloved wife of 59 years. Donald is survived by his ten children: Chuck Wenzel of Stratford; Mary (Dan) Glatch and daughter Laurel of Waterford; Louanne (Jeff) Meyer and children Amber (Jordan) Rahm with daughters Grace and Maggie Lou, Jake (Amy) with daughter Sadie, Zack and Nate of Spencer; Judy (John) Schwabe and daughters Jenna (Mitch Nosbisch) and Jessica of Stratford; Larry Wenzel of Stratford; Bernie (Jennifer) Wenzel and children Kylah, Benno, Kressa, Ava and Teddy of Stratford; Tom (Margie) Wenzel and children Andrea (Nathan) Kerr, Sam, Tim and Lizzie of Edgar; Donna (Todd) Webb and children Natalie and Tate of Sussex; Bert Wenzel and children Chase and Max of Brodhead; Nancy (Ben) Welch and children Marin, Sheridan, Mather, Rosalie and Elliott of Eatonville, Wash.
He is further survived by his sisters: Alice Fisher and Sister Margaret Wenzel, and in-laws: Mark Kaiser, Helen Stockheimer and Marie Wenzel.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and wife Rose, along with the following siblings and in-laws: Raymond (Rose and Marie) Wenzel, Walter Wenzel, Agnes (Victor Neuwirth and Peter) Meyer, Alfred Wenzel, Marie (Ludwig) Grassl, Leo (Mildred) Wenzel, Loretta (Norman) Tritz, Sister Dorothy Wenzel, Sylvester Fisher, Anna Marie (Ernie) Kress, Ed (Joan) Stockheimer, Tony (Violet) Stockheimer, Norbert Stockheimer, Joe Stockheimer, Ray Stockheimer and Agnes Kaiser.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at St. Croix Hospice for their exceptional service assisting the family with care. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to Charles Wenzel, 203665 Grand Meadow Rd., Stratford, WI 54484 for disbursement to organizations Don supported.
Paid obituary 123677