Arnold "Bud" Wenzel

ARNOLD 'BUD' WALTER WENZEL was born November 26, 1924 to Karl Gustav and Frieda (Ahrendt) Wenzel in Denver Township, Rock County, Minnesota. He received his baptism on March 15, 1925 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, Minnesota and was confirmed there on August 6, 1939. He attended country school through the eighth grade. On June 30, 1948 Bud was united in marriage to Jessie Ellefson at the Rose Dell Lutheran Country Church east of Jasper, Minnesota. The couple lived and worked the farm while raising their four children. In addition to his career in agriculture Bud worked for the Blue Mound Inn & Catering Service and the Farmers Union Coop Oil Co. He retired from farming in May of 2004.

On Wednesday, October 28, 2015 Bud died peacefully surrounded by his family at the Pipestone County Hospice House in Pipestone, Minnesota at the age of 90 years, 11 months and two days.

Bud was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick where he served as an elder, trustee, janitor, and Lutheran Laymen's League officer on the Zone & Zion level. He truly enjoyed being a member of the Blue Mound Woodcarvers. He also enjoyed bowling, dartball, gardening, puzzles and fishing. Bud enjoyed helping remodel the homes of family members and attending his grandkids ballgames. He found maintaining his big farm yard was more of a joy to him than a chore and took particular pride in his yard. In his spare time he loved working on wood projects, word finds, and cutting blocks for the quilters at church.

Bud is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jessie; four children, Dean (Linda) of Luverne, Minnesota, Richard (Deb) of Garretson, South Dakota, Patricia (David) Swenson of Beaver Creek, Minnesota, and Paulette (Randy) Richters of Luverne; seven grandchildren, Robert (Bronwyn) Wenzel of Luverne, Jennifer (Donald) Luitjen of Luverne, Joey (Randi) Wenzel of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Dustin (Kayla) Richters of Brainerd, Minnesota, Devin (Elizabeth) Richters of Dell Rapids, South Dakota, Dylan Richters and Jessica Richters of Luverne; six great-grandchildren, Mason and Madilyn Wenzel, Elle Richters, Jaxon Richters and Kyia and Riley Wenzel; a brother, Russell (Doris) Wenzel of Luverne, Minnesota; and a sister-in-law, Lois Wenzel of Hastings, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents, Karl and Frieda; brothers, Raymond, Lester, and Alvin; sister, Arlene; son, Robert James; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Wenzel.

Memorials may be directed to the Lutheran Hour ministries or hospice of donor’s choice.