Lois Wendorf

Our beloved mother, Lois Ann (Lambrecht) Wendorf, walked into the loving arms of Jesus on Sunday, June 6, 2021.  Lois was born 94 years ago on March 12, 1927. Lois graduated from Merrill High School and shortly thereafter married the love of her life, Darroll Wendorf, on June 15, 1946.  Together, they committed their lives to Jesus in 1950.

Mom lived a simple, honorable life and we have no doubt she was greeted with the words “well done, good and faithful servant” when her soul entered into its heavenly rest.  Besides being an incredible, hardworking mother, foster mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Mom held many jobs outside the home as well.  Her first job was as a “soda jerk” at Gruett’s.  She also worked briefly for Wisconsin Public Service and served as a nurse’s aide at Holy Cross Hospital for a number of years before becoming a rural mail carrier for the US Postal Service.

Her favorite job of all, of course, was loving and taking care of her beloved husband for the 74 years they were married before he died in February of 2021.  She loved our Daddy so!  Mom loved helping Dad on the farm and could often be seen driving the tractor while Daddy manned the farm machinery behind the tractor.  We will forever hold dear the memories of Mom mowing the lawn, gardening, birdwatching, helping with chores, riding horses with Dad, singing and playing the piano, sewing, and mending, and cooking maple sap with Dad.  Mom loved to can, cook, and bake--her yummy pies, hamballs, hoot owl cookies, and caramel rolls were legendary!

Mom was an active member of Bible Presbyterian Church where she participated in Bethany Guild when her work schedule allowed.  She helped with countless fellowship dinners and, with Daddy, helped coordinate the annual shoebox project for the Operation Christmas Child ministry for years.  Mom was a gracious hostess who made it a mission to welcome newcomers to church and invite them out to the farm to share a meal.  She regularly sent notes and letters of encouragement to family, church family, friends, and was a faithful pen pal for decades to a prison inmate in Alabama through Prison Fellowship ministries.

We’re so thankful for the loving home Mom made for us and for the wonderful example of godly womanhood she provided.  Mom was a fierce and faithful prayer warrior who hid God’s Word in her heart and served as a spiritual mother to many.  She was indeed that woman described in Proverbs 31--clothed with dignity and a quiet strength, continually blessing those God put in her path. She showed us all what love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control looked and felt like.

Lois is survived by her eight children--Christine, Sherman, TX; David (Patti), Merrill; Cathy (Dave Goetz), Gleason, Carolyn (Bob) Gustin, Tomahawk: Donald (Coreen), Merrill, Karen (Bruce Heldt), Gleason; Richard (Dawn), Merrill, and Cheri (Dan Hammond), Kalispell, MT.  She is further survived by 21 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, her brother, Dennis (Denise), AZ, and her baby sister, Diane Kleinschmidt, Wausau.  Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Darroll, her grandson, Adam Wendorf, her parents Harold and Sadie Lambrecht, and several sisters and brothers: Vernette Gruett, Harold “Buddy,” Ruth McNeil, Dorothy Jankowsky, Carol Stiver, Ellen Holt, Janice Bloomfield, Dale, David, and William.

A public visitation will be held on Saturday, June 26th from 9:00-11:00 am in the foyer of Bible Presbyterian Church.  A private memorial service for family will be held immediately following at 11:00 am.  The memorial service will be live-streamed on the Bible Presbyterian Church-Merrill, Wisconsin Facebook page for those who wish to participate virtually.  Memorials may be given to Bible Presbyterian Church, 1605 Hwy G, Merrill, WI, 54452.  The family would like to thank Pastor Andy Perry, Lisa, Janet and the team from Foundations Healthcare, as well as Roseann, Judy, Rachele, Joy, Tim, and the entire hospice support team from Interim Healthcare for their care and support of Mom and for all of us as Mom’s caregivers.

Waid Funeral Home & Cremation Service is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.waidfuneral.com.