Stephen Wenner

Obituary of Stephen Wenner

Stephen Lynn Wenner, devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and long-time certified public accountant (CPA) of Greenwood Village, died, Sunday, August 17, 2025, of pneumonia after a long battle with dementia. He was 86.

Over the course of his career of more than 50 years, Steve was an honored and valued member of the Denver business community. More than anything in his life, he treasured his wife, Enid; their children, Michelle and Daniel; and grandchildren, Josie, Jake, and Cole.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 2, 1939, to Ann and Joseph Wenner, the family moved to Denver when Steve was two, and he remained a fixture in the Denver community throughout his life. While growing up here, Steve worked as a ticket taker on the ski train to Winter Park, which allowed him to ski for free. That job sparked a lifetime love of skiing.

He graduated from East High School in 1957 and the University of Colorado-Boulder in 1961. During college, Steve was a member of the Phi Sigma Delta fraternity, where he was endearingly called "Buns" (not because he was a baker) and was the treasurer. He also spent time with friends waterskiing, where he famously could start his runs by standing in the ski on the dry, wooden dock.

After college, Steve joined the Colorado Air National Guard, from which he was honorably discharged after his service concluded. Steve became a CPA in 1963. He began his career at a firm, which he ultimately purchased in 1970 and branded Wenner, Silvestain & Company. Steve spent more than 45 years as the managing partner of that firm, which was renamed the Wenner Group in 2012. For more than 50 years, Steve was a valued business advisor in the Denver community, expanding from accounting services to provide investment advisor advice as a registered investment advisor.

As he was beginning his career, Steve met the love of his life and future wife, Enid, on a blind date. After their brief courtship, Enid (yes, Enid) proposed, and they married on December 21, 1969, enjoying more than 55 years together. He loved Michelle, who inherited his mind for numbers, and Dan, who inherited his looks, but not his hairline. He also adored his grandchildren, Josie, who inherited his love of chocolate; Jake, who inherited his love of cars; and Cole, who inherited his love of playing cards. His strangest, cutest, and perhaps most endearing kinship was with Michelle's cat, Esteban. Steve's namesake in Spanish was afraid of nearly all people and yet LOVED Steve. Animals' affinity for Steve was well known, but most exemplified by his relationship with his beloved dog, Fletch, who mirrored his personality in every way.

Steve was a lifelong Denver Broncos fan, purchasing season tickets when they were first made available in 1962, and hosting a celebrated Super Bowl party at his home for almost 50 consecutive seasons. He also was an avid supporter of the Colorado Avalanche (once having the opportunity to drink from the Stanley Cup), Nuggets, and Rockies, and could often be seen sporting a Rockies hat. He loved fast cars, especially Corvettes; playing golf with his wife and friends; desserts, chocolate, and chocolate desserts; Broadway shows, most notably the Phantom of the Opera; and classical symphonies. He famously made chocolate-chip cookies, which made their way into the fridges, freezers, and pantries of his friends throughout the area. Those cookies also made their way to the college campuses where his children attended school and the dorm rooms and apartments of their friends over the years, often arriving unbidden in a very well-taped box.

In addition to being a business leader in the community, Steve was committed to charitable and other endeavors. He helped establish the Eastmoor Swim and Tennis Club, was a Chairman of the Board of the American Medical Center - Cancer Research Hospital, volunteered at the I Have A Dream Foundation, and president of the neighborhood water board. Steve was a devoted member of Temple Emanuel and could often be found as an usher during High Holy Day and other services, notably not sitting still, which was on brand. He also had a profound role in the lives of Enid's nieces, Jill Goldstein and Beth Hornstein, and nephew, Joseph Hornstein, when their father died too soon.

Steve is survived by his wife, Enid (nee Venger), children, Michelle of San Diego, CA, and Daniel of West Hartford, CT, his wife Christine Meding, and children, Josie, Jake, and Cole. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Ann Wenner; his brother, Gordon Wenner; and his sister-in-law, Nancy Hornstein, and her husband, Bennett Hornstein.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 on Wednesday, August 20 at Temple Emanuel; interment Emanuel Cemetery; livestream available on Feldman Mortuary's YouTube channe l;

Contributions to Temple Emanuel, The Denver Hospice or the Bennett G. Hornstein Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation.