Nancy S Wendt

Nancy's Wonderful World

Nancy Ann was born in Michigan City, Indiana to Paul William and Anna Carolina Fredericka Schnick. She was the younger sister to Ronald and David.

She graduated from Marshall High School in Michigan in 1953. She then began her career in Chicago, fashionably walking down Michigan Avenue in her high heels, to LaSalle National Bank. She began honing her bridge skills on the hour-long South Shore Line electric train commute and refined them throughout her life with another bridge partner she met in 1960.

A handsome intern arrived at her home church of St. Paul Lutheran in Michigan City, Indiana that year. Maybe there was a wink of two from the pew. She married Jerald Lee Wendt of Bergholz, New York on June 16, 1962. They enjoyed 63 years of wedded bliss. They had three children, Gretchen (Chris ) Cudak, Nathan Wendt and Charles (Stacy) Wendt. Nancy was the best mom imaginable, and warmly welcomed the addition of grandchildren, Austin (Madeline Esteb) Cudak, Elliott (Catherine) Cudak, Evan Cudak, Hailey (Brently) Bohn, Kristina (Chet) Trimborn, Sophie Wendt (Austin Dunlap), and Sadie Wendt. Her great grandchildren were the apple of her eye, Brooklyn, Kennedy, Charlotte and Wyatt Bohn and Miles and Hayden Trimborn. From their first snuggles with the handmade flannel blankets she gave them as infants to eating her famous Oatmeal Pancakes, Sweet Rolls, and Cherry Berries on a Cloud, all the grandkids are full of warm and happy memories. She could turn any activity into a cherished pastime. Seeing who could pick the most raspberries from her abundant patch was a special favorite.

Nancy and Jerry's ministry took them to three congregations:

First English Lutheran Church in Whitewater, WI from 1963-1966

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cedarburg, WI from 1966-1973

Faith Lutheran Church in Columbus, WI from 1973-1984

and back to First English in Whitewater from 1984-present.

An important part of her service work included sewing quilts for refugees across the world through Lutheran World Relief. The quilters at First English have made more than 10,000 quilts over the years. A ministry filled with love and joy.

In 1990 Nancy opened Victoria-on-Main Bed & Breakfast. Her business allowed her to practice what she naturally was so good at-hospitality. She welcomed travelers from all over, but she especially welcomed refugees who needed a home. Over the years people from Uganda, Belgium, Kosovo and Ukraine became family. She continued to welcome guests through her 90th year.

Nancy had a quick wit and sharp card sense. She played bridge throughout her life, with Jerry as her favorite partner. They became Life Masters in Bridge in 2024. She also loved a good game of euchre or dominoes.

Nancy and Jerry were always up for an adventure and took a two-month road trip to Alaska after Jerry retired from the ministry in 2003. Following that, they began spending the Advent season on the the gulf of Florida, collecting oodles of shells and feeding seagulls off their ocean-view balcony. They took many riverboat cruises in Europe, gathering friends to go with them. They enjoyed many vacations to the beautiful sunshine of Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico during the Wisconsin winters. They also enjoyed summer fishing trips to Gretchen and Chris' Pine Cottage on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes in Minnesota.

Nancy lived life fully to the end in her beautiful Victorian home, just as she hoped. She had geraniums saved in the basement for the upcoming summer, canned dozens of jars of tomato juice just last fall, and hosted the whole family for Christmas 2025, decorating a 15-foot tree in the foyer. She suffered a seizure on January 16th, and was well cared for by the nurses and doctors at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison. A recent cancer diagnosis caused her to spend her last week peacefully in hospice care, where her loving family held her hands, just as she held ours throughout our lives. When it comes to love, we all learned from the best.

Visitation will be held Saturday, March 7, 2026 at First English Lutheran Church in Whitewater, WI from 9:00 am - 10:45 am. Services will be at 11:00 am

https://epilogg.com/obituary/nancy-s-wendt-whitewater-wi-53190-usa-17324