Patrick S. Wentzel

Patrick S. Wentzel, age 69, of Pocahontas, passed away on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Patrick Shawn Wentzel was born on March 17, 1955, in Wadena, Minnesota. He was the son of Robert and Edna (Schumacher) Wentzel. Pat graduated from the Pocahontas High School in 1973. He then attended Loras College in Dubuque where he met many of his lifelong friends. Following college, Pat moved to Venice, FL and worked with his uncle, Tom Wentzel, at True Value in Nokomis, FL. He later partnered with his father and Uncle Tom to operate another store in Osprey, FL, which he did for several years. Pat loved his time at the beach there and enjoyed hunting for shark teeth and crawdads.
Pat returned to Pocahontas in the early 1980s and joined his father at True Value Farm & Home, where he partnered and managed the store for over 40 years, affectionately becoming known as "The Hardware Dude." Pat married Amber Buske at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church in Pocahontas on June 20, 1987. The couple settled near Pocahontas where they raised their two sons, Zach and Clay.
Pat was a member of Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and Pheasants Forever. He enjoyed hosting "The Hunt" with his buds for over 30 years at the farm, including lifelong friends and the Dubuque crowd. He loved fishing, hunting, wildlife, star gazing, storm chasing, listening to music, road trips, watching old westerns and the peace and quiet of living on "the farm". Pat also enjoyed the time he spent with Amber and his friends at Tuttle Lake, especially the sunsets and fish fries with Keith and the bunch. He enjoyed his sports as well, having been a Hawkeye and Vikings fan, and in high school, he competed in wrestling, football and track, served on student council and was voted onto the Homecoming Court.
Pat will be remembered as a wonderful husband and father, a patient and loyal friend, and a gentle soul. His spirit shined as bright as the stars that he so loved.
Survivors include his wife, Amber, of Pocahontas; sons, Zachary Wentzel of Haines, Alaska and Clayton Wentzel of Des Moines; siblings, Mike (Jane) Wentzel of Emmetsburg, Mary Jo (Brian) Schroeder of Pocahontas, Kelly (Tammy) Wentzel of Des Moines, Diane (Tim) Flaherty of Pocahontas, Nancy Wentzel of Des Moines, David (Melissa) Wentzel of Des Moines and Susie Wentzel of Pocahontas; brother-in-law, Randy Buske; many nieces and nephews, and his dog, Indy.
Pat was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Edna; brothers, Robert Jr. and Danny; in-laws, Earl and Mary Ann Buske and lifelong friend, Dan Hudek.