Wendell Venenga

Wendell Wayne Venenga was born on December 7, 1937 on the family farm near Wellsburg, IA, son of Menno B. and Anna (Meyer) Venenga. He was raised in the Wellsburg area and attended country school at Colfax #4. Wendell worked as a farmhand for his father and many area farmers. Wendell was united in marriage to Norma Jeanne Walton on November 17, 1962 in Whitten, IA. They settled in Grundy Co. near Aplington. Wendell worked at the John Deere foundry and also raised livestock on his farm. After his retirement in the early 1990?s, Wendell and Jeanne enjoyed traveling and spending every spare moment with his family and friends, especially the grandchildren. On December 14, 1999, Jeanne died, completing 37 years of marriage with Wendell. Wendell was a member of the Stout Reformed Church for many years and was active in many ministries with financial support, correspondence and daily prayer.

Surviving relatives include two daughters, Sheila (Ian) Cruse of Marion, IA, Wendy (Pepe) Pena of Aplington, IA; five grandchildren, Travis (Christy) Kolder of Cedar Rapids, IA, Trista Kolder of Minneapolis, MN, Landon Nicolai of Iowa City, IA, Levi Nicolai of Marina, CA, Lance Nicolai of Iowa Falls, IA; one expected Great-Grandchild; two brothers, Ronald (Charlene) Venenga of Waterloo, IA, Norman (Katie) Venenga of Wellsburg, IA; two sisters, Verone (Marvin) Nederhoff of Grundy Center, IA, LaVonne Eilderts of Holland, IA; many nieces and nephews.

Wendell was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jeanne; an infant son, Wendell; one brother, Delmer Venenga.