Wendell Lundgaard

Wendell Dean Lundgaard March 11, 1952-August 5, 2022

Wendell was born in Red Wing, Minnesota to parents Alvin and Clara Lundgaard, and lived on the family farm in Beldenville, WI his entire life. He attended Sunnyside Elementary School in Ellsworth, WI and graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1970. During high school he was a member of FFA and because he was such a big guy, played tuba in the school band. After high school he attended UW/River Falls for a short time studying agriculture and basic farming. In 1973 Wendell married, Virginia Hilden. Together they raised a daughter, Amy Catherine, and later divorced in 1995, happily regaining their friendship in recent years.

In addition to farming, Wendell was a man of the open road, working as an over the road trucker. He started his trucking career delivering hay, and worked many years at Bud Meyer Trucking in Lake City, WI. Most recently he worked for California Overland bringing produce from the West Coast to the Midwest. He owned several farming businesses, but bartered for just about everything. He raised hogs, cattle and trees on Wendell's Tree Farm.

Wendell had a magnetic presence and you always knew when he was around. He was the kind of man that if he saw you sitting alone in a truck stop of café, he'd beckon you over by saying "Hey, come on and sit with me and I'll buy you a piece of pie". He loved telling stories and never ran out. He was a friend to all and especially if you needed help. Wendell could always be counted on to show up, whether he was calling to check in on you or showing up with buddies to help you move. There was a special place in his heart for the local Amish communities and he considered them his friends. There was hardly a time when Wendell didn't show up without an Amish made pie, pickles, desserts, or other goods.

He especially enjoyed his 3 grandchildren and they will miss their Papa Wendell very much. He was very interested in their activities with animals around their little farm, raising chickens, ducks and geese. Grandpa Wendell had recently delivered an Amish made coop, which is being moved to a permanent location and will be a named honoring their Papa.

Wendell will be welcomed to heaven by his parents, his son Adam, and especially his dog Pumpkin. Pumpkin was his chihuahua truck buddy, happily traveling the highways and truckstops with his human companion.

He is survived by Daughter Amy (Keegan) Iversen, Grandchildren Madison, Ryker and Sasha Iversen, Sister Juleen Klawiter, Brothers David (Maria) and Stanley (Bev) Lundgaard; and his nieces and nephews, and many friends across the country.

A Celebration of life for Wendell Lundgaard will be Monday, August 15th from 2pm to 6pm at the O'Connell Family Funeral Home in Ellsworth. Burial will be in the Our Savior Lutheran Cemetery. Having the honor of being a casket bearer are Randy Klawiter, Wayne Lundgaard , Aaron Diercks, Gary Peterson, Donny Stockwell, Galen Lundgaard , Tony Most, and Don Hastings. Memorials are preferred to the discretion of the family.

Services entrusted to the O'Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ellsworth, www.oconnellfuneralservices.com, 715-273-4421