Herman Karl Wentzel

Herman Karl Wentzel, the son of the Rev. Karl F. and Magdalena (Quindel) Wentzel, was born in Craigmyle, Alberta, Canada, on July 2, 1926, as the second of six children. In 1931, the family moved to North Dakota, where Herman grew up and attended public schools. He married Ruth Schwanz on July 24, 1949, at St. John's Lutheran Church, South Branch, MN. Herman attended Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, IL (B.S. in Education), the University of Minnesota (M.A.), and Columbia University in New York City (Ed.D.). He was also awarded an honorary doctorate (LL.D.) by Concordia College in Bronxville, NY. For sixteen years, Herman served as a teacher and principal in Lutheran elementary schools in Kansas and Missouri. He also served as a professor and administrator for thirty-one years in Lutheran colleges in Missouri, New York, and Minnesota. His administrative positions in colleges ranged from resident dormitory counselor to various vice presidencies to college presidency. In churches in the cities where he taught, he also served as a church organist for over thirty years. His other activities included serving as congregation president and on many congregation committees, as well as on various committees and task forces of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He enjoyed golf, hunting, woodworking, reading, and various musical endeavors. Herman was preceded in death by his parents, son James; two brothers and one sister. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; son, Steven (Vicki) of Napoleon, OH; daughters, Kathryn of Kensington, MD; and Karen of Palo Alto, CA; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Donna (Don) Bresemann of Coeur D'Alene, ID, and Doris Burns of Troy, MO; sisters-in-law, Irene Wentzel of Collinsville, IL, and brothers-in-law, George (Mary Jo) Schwanz of Blaine, MN, as well as many nieces and nephews. During his lifetime, Herman was blessed with the loving support of Ruth, his wife of 74 years, and his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He passed away on September 28, 2023, at the age of 97. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 4th, 2023, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Napoleon, Ohio. Interment will follow at Glenwood Cemetery in Napoleon, Ohio. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 3 – 7 p.m. at Rodenberger-Gray Funeral Home in Napoleon and on Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are to be designated to St. Paul Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.rodenbergergray.com.

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Herman Karl Wentzel

July 2, 1926 - September 28, 2023