Josephine Wentzel

JOSEPHINE WENTZELJosephine Katrina Wentzel…

was born on the family farm in Nobles County, Lismore, Minnesota to Henry and Anna (Steenstra) Van Bockel on December 29, 1916. At the age of two years, she moved with her parents to Pipestone County, Minnesota. She went to country school at District 43 through the eighth grade and worked diligently to graduate from Edgerton High School. Jo traveled the five miles to high school either on her horse or, when the weather was bad, she would ride along on a hand car with a rail road worker. Jo worked as a waitress in Pipestone and as Rosie the Riveter during WWII while in San Diego, California. She was married to Ralph Albert Wentzel on November 17, 1938 at Rock Rapids, Iowa. They farmed for 16 years in Pipestone County before moving into town and buying Ralph’s Place together. They had the tavern for 23 years and sold it in 1978 due to her husband’s health. She took care of him until his death in 1987. After his death, she spent eight winters in California with her sisters and made two trips to Hawaii with them. In May, 2008, she became a resident of Falls Landing Assisted Living in Pipestone. On June 3, 2012, Jo died at the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone at the age of 95 years, five months and four days.

Jo was a member of Peace United Methodist Church in Pipestone. She enjoyed gospel and country music, playing bingo and doing crossword puzzles. A true love of hers was reading. She was also fascinated with owls and began collecting them after retirement.

She is survived by her three children, Mary Ann Popp of Pipestone, Minnesota, John (Deanna) Wentzel of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Jean (Leon) Roske of Willmar, Minnesota; seven grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren and one step-great grandchild; five great great-grandchildren; two sisters, Katie Vagts of San Jose, California and Margie Mears of Winnetka, California. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; two infant children, Ralph and Margie; sister, Marie Robson; brother, John Van Bockel, who was killed in World War II; and son-in-law, Edward.