Leroy Wientjes

Leroy Michael Wientjes, 85, passed from this life on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, at home with his family.

Mike was born on Aug. 26, 1928 in Cleveland, the youngest child of John and Thearesa Baker Wientjes.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jeanette Rude Wientjes; a son, Ronald (Debra Herman) Wientjes of Xenia; a son, Donald (Heidi Davis) Wientjes of Wilmington; two grandchildren, Christy (Tim) Fielding and Elissa (Justin) Thrasher; two great-grandsons, Jake Fielding and Nolan Thrasher; a brother, Robert Wientjes of Columbus; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joann and Marvin Chamberlin of Midland; a brother-in-law, Felix Rude of Whitehouse, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

Also surviving are special friends, Stacy and Shadrack Dvorak and family.

Predeceasing Mike were four sisters, Marcella Grosse, Estella Schwanks, Loraine Gray and Regina Wientjes who died as a child; three brothers and five sisters-in-law; John and June Wientjes, Joseph and Lita Wientjes, Norbert and Grace Wientjes, Ruth Wientjes and Jane Rude.

The Wientjes family moved to Blanchester during the Depression and began farming on a farm on state Route 123 south of Blanchester.

Mike and his four brothers all served honorably in the United States military. Mike joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from Blanchester High School and served at the end of World War II and in the Korean Conflict. During the Korean Conflict, Mike served aboard the U.S.S. Gen. G.M. Randall.

After being discharged in 1951, Mike returned to Blanchester and studied at the University of Cincinnati and worked at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Mike and Jeanette were married on Aug. 21, 1954 in Blanchester. Mike retired from Wright-Patterson in 1983, having worked for several years in the AFOG Division where he built displays and special projects for the Air Force.

Mike's life revolved around his family, home and church. He was a member of the St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Wilmington for more than 50 years. Mike was extremely talented in woodworking, gardening, art and photography.

He was a master woodworker creating beautiful pieces of furniture, cabinetry, decorative items and wonderful toy boxes. Several remodeled kitchens and projects in the Wilmington area were the product of his talents. His photography of flowers was outstanding and one of his pictures of a yellow rose from his garden was chosen by Mead Corporation to be on the cover of a three-ring notebook.

In his off-time from work and in his retirement, Mike could always be found in his workshop or in the garden; and in the wintertime, he would be planning next year's flower gardens and projects. Mike loved to laugh and be light-hearted. He will be missed by all those whose lives he touched.

Mass of Christian Burial will be intoned at the St. Columbkille Catholic Church, 73 N. Mulberry St. in Wilmington, on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. The burial will be at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Fayetteville.

Arrangements are being handled for the family by the Tufts Schildmeyer Family Funeral Home in Blanchester. Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made in Mike's memory to Community Care Hospice, P.O. Box 123, Wilmington, OH 45177.

To send an online note of condolence, please visit www.tuftsschildmeyer.com.