Elsie Eva Wendt

Elsie Eva Wendt, of St. Joseph passed away on June 19, 2012 at the age of 95. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 23, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Joseph with Rev. Thomas Batsky officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Friday, June 22, 2012 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Elsie was born March 28, 1917, in rural Manitoba Province, near Glenella, a daughter of Frederick and Rosalie (Tiefenbach) Hintz. The Hintz family eventually moved from Canada to Bridgman. She later met Richard E. Wendt and were married September 1, 1934 a marriage that lasted over 50 years before Richard’s death in 1987. Elsie was naturalized as a U. S. citizen May 17, 1941. She was a homemaker and raised two children; Richard “Dick” Wendt and Judith Jeschke. In later years she was employed by Leco Corporation. She was very active at Trinity Lutheran Church having served with the school PTL, Priscilla Guild, Choir, Finance Board, Funeral Meals Committee, Usher and the Ladies Aid. She also enjoyed high school sports and attended many St. Joe Bears football and basketball games. Elsie is survived by a son, Dick (Jo) Wendt of St. Joseph and a daughter Judith (Rex) Jeshcke of Scottsdale, AZ. Grandchildren Alan (Katie) Wendt of Fort Wayne, IN, Brian Wendt of Palm Harbor, FL, Andy (Patricia) Jeschke of Minneapolis, MN, Heather (Kyle) Heveron of Apple Valley, MN and step-grandson Matthew (Corri) Heiden of Spring Valley, IL. and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Irene “Curly” (Herb) Reimers of St. Joseph and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, her parents, two sisters, Rose (Bus) Cummings, Frieda (Gordon) Shuler and half-brother Adolph “Sonny” Kurbis.