Mildred "Millie" V. Wendt

Mildred Viola Wendt, 86, of Appleton, passed away peacefully into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior on November 1st, 2025. Millie was born May 12th, 1939 in Chilton, Wisconsin to the late Gordon J. Zastrow, Sr. and Viola (Peik) Zastrow. Millie attended Bethlehem Lutheran Grade School and graduated from Central High School in 1957. She was united in marriage to Dennis Wendt on October 12th, 1963. They spent 62 amazing years together prior to her passing.

Millie was a dedicated public health nurse at Milwaukee County Hospital, where she served with compassion and skill. Her career was tragically cut short by a devastating car accident, in which she lost her beloved sister, Gladys. This profound injury and loss marked a turning point in Millie's life, yet she carried forward with remarkable resilience. After years of healing, Millie and Dennis were blessed with their two children Amy and John.

During Dennis’s working years, Millie and the family were blessed with many trips to various locations including Hawaii and Acapulco. She also loved spending time with family at the lake house up north on Legend Lake, and more recently at John and Jen’s lake house on the porch just enjoying the view.

Millie was a giver. If she stopped by to see you, and even if you told her not to bring anything, you were guaranteed to be receiving a box of doughnuts, Pepsi, or Cran Grape from Festival foods. You were also guaranteed multiple hugs, which will be missed.

She was famous for, ‘Just 10 more minutes’. Dennis learned over many years that if he wanted to leave to get on the road back to Appleton, he had to start telling her they were leaving about 45 minutes prior to departure to account for the process. Her other favorite was ‘Just one more picture!’. Many of you know how many times we had to pose for what seemed to be 100 pictures before she was satisfied that she got the shot. In recent years due to the creation of the cell phone, this burden was transferred to Dennis, with Millie directing him with the same vigor.

Millie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker whose boundless energy kept us all running. She was kind and truly cared for you. She touched many lives with her positive thinking.

For those of you that knew Millie, you know that she was a woman of unwavering faith. She truly lived her life to share the Lord’s message with others. Together with her husband Dennis, Millie co-founded and organized the annual Holy Spirit Conferences from 1990 to 2002. Held in local churches and community centers, these gatherings drew hundreds from Wisconsin and surrounding states for worship, teaching, and renewal. More recently she had been attending local prayer meetings as well as the Monday night family gathering that she really enjoyed. Millie was also an active member of Faith Lutheran church in Appleton.

Millie was preceded in death by her daughter Amy, her parents Gordon Sr. and Viola, her brothers, Harold, Earl, and Gordon Jr. and her sisters, Gladys and Lorraine. She is survived by her husband Dennis, her son John (Jennifer), Amy’s husband Bruce Stahl and her grandchildren Abbie, Alexandra, and Amanda. She is also survived by her sisters Irene Basar, Joyce (Francis) Coates, and Earlene Zastrow

A service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Appleton on Monday November 10th at 11 am. A showing will precede the service from 9 am – 11 am.

Millie was truly the ‘BEST OF THE BEST’!