Michael R. Wenger

Michael R. "Mick" Wenger, 65, passed away into Christ's presence on March 12, 2024. He was found on his tractor, doing what he liked best, tinkering with equipment on the family farm. Visitation will be held from 9:30-11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 23, 2024 at Iles Brandt Chapel, Dallas Center, with a service to follow, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Private family burial will take place at Brethren Cemetery, rural Dallas Center.
Mick was born November 25, 1958 in Des Moines, Iowa to Lloyd and Barbara (Husted) Wenger. He grew up in Minburn and graduated from Central Dallas High School in Minburn, Iowa. He was united in marriage to Lori Brown on September 15, 1979. Mick and Lori met in the Grace Brethren nursery as children and spent the rest of their lives loving each other.
Mick and Lori made their home in Minburn, then spent two years in Columbus, Ohio before returning to Iowa, where they settled in Adel. They have three children, Seth, Nathan, and Aimee.
Mick worked as a farmer and Realtor Broker. He retired from On Board Trucking Communications. Following retirement, his greatest joy was being a proud papa to his grandchildren.
Mick was secure in his belief of his salvation by grace thru the blood of Jesus Christ, taught to him by the loving example of his parents and church family. He was optimistic, to a fault, always believing and striving for the good. He was a dreamer, always looking for ways to serve others. He was generous with his time and he especially loved giving gifts.
Mick loved going places. He found a measure of peace in just driving but also found pleasure stopping to explore the wonders of where he was. Due to job travel, he accumulated over 1 Million Actual miles with one airline and Preferred Status with two other airlines. Mick & Lori traveled to Africa 5 times, Dominican Republic, Europe, Mexico & Canada and all 50 states. Most memorable were the 25th anniversary Inside Passage Alaskan cruise and 30th anniversary Hawaii cruise and working at the orphanage in Welkom South Africa. Wherever his travels took him, he was most at home on the farm.
He was a lover of music and participated in solos, choirs and ensembles. He was an excellent singer comfortable in leading the melody or by adding harmony. He played the piano, trombone and the radio (usually loudly). His love of music came from his mother. He fondly recalled learning to sing harmony in his youth with the family traveling by car.
Mick was patient and he generally wasn't hurried, secure that God could handle all things well. He did not preach except through the quiet example of faith manifested in his life.
Mick is survived by his wife, Lori; his children, Seth (Lindsey) Wenger, Nathan Wenger and Aimee (Chris) Pajak; grandchildren, Viviana, Margot, Issac and Preston; siblings, Nadine (Byron) Leas and Robert (Vivian) Wenger; brother-in-law, Scott Brown as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents; a niece, Audrey Wenger and parents-in-law, Billy and Joan Brown.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Water for Good at https://waterforgood.org/, Puppy Jake Foundation at https://www.puppyjakefoundation.org/ or Grace Brethren Church, Dallas Center.
For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed. Please go to Mick's obituary page at www.IlesCares.com for the link, online condolences and additional information.
Mick may have seemed to be a farmer, to others an electronics expert, writer of software, but to Lori and his children, he was their rock. He truly was a multi-faceted jewel and will be deeply missed.
Arrangements by Iles Brandt Chapel.
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