Richard Lee Wenz

Richard Lee Wenz, 81, of Davenport, passed away Thursday, December 3rd 2015 at the Clarissa Cook Hospice House. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Monday, December 7, 2015 at Risen Christ Lutheran Church, 6021 Northwest Blvd, Davenport. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 7:00 pm on Sunday, December 6, 2015 at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Risen Christ Lutheran Church or Genesis Hospice. Online tributes and condolences may be made at www.rungemortuary.com. Richard was born on September 24th 1934, in Lincoln Nebraska, the son of Arthur and Mildred Wenz. He was united in marriage to Janet Schneider on July 25th 1959 in St. Louis Missouri. Richard attended Concordia High School and Teachers College in Seward Nebraska. He went on to get his Master’s Degree at Washington University in St. Louis Missouri. Before becoming a teacher, principal and church administrator at Trinity Lutheran School in Davenport, he served Concordia Lutheran School, Maplewood Missouri, St. John’s Lutheran School, Hannibal Missouri and St. John’s Lutheran School, Ellisville Missouri. Following retirement, Richard became the church administrator and coordinator of older adult ministry at Risen Christ Lutheran Church Davenport Iowa. He enjoyed being a part of many district and synodical committees, including being a member of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Board of Regents. Richard served the community as school evaluator for the United States Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School awards and was appointed to the Iowa Governor’s Advisory Council for Non-Public Schools by Governor Branstad. In 1993, he received the National Distinguished Principal award from the United States Department of Education. He also volunteered at Genesis Hospital Cancer Center as a patient care advocate daily for 10 years. He is survived by his wife Janet of 56 years, his children, Jennifer (Dave) Steere, Waverly Iowa and Jeff (Ashleigh) Wenz, Santa Rosa California and his grandchildren Tanner and Dalton Steere and Ethan and Keaton Wenz and brother, Donald (Una Fay) Wenz, Middletown Ohio, Sister-in-Law Linda (Rich) Meyer and his 4 nieces and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents.