Richard Lee Wendt

Richard Lee Wendt, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and faithful child of God, crossed the bridge from this earthly life to join the saints who have gone before him, on June 15, 2025.

Richard (Dick) was born in Middletown, Ohio, on February 23, 1938, to Chester Frank and Annabel Harpe Wendt. While growing up in Middletown, Dick attended Bethlehem Lutheran Church with his family. It was through his active involvement in the Bethlehem community that Dick cultivated his passion for ministry. At a very early age, he set his sights on the goal of becoming an ordained pastor in the Lutheran Church.

Dick graduated from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, on the campus of Capital University, in Columbus, Ohio, and was ordained on June 14, 1964. He accepted his first call to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Angeles, Washington as associate pastor, working closely with his mentor and friend, Rev. Laverne Nelsen.

Dick’s time in Port Angeles, which included supporting the formation of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Forks, was followed by a call to serve at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Issaquah. From there, Dick became mission developer and pastor of Harbour Pointe Lutheran Church in Mukilteo, where he continued to proclaim the Gospel with his own brand of enthusiasm. In 1996, Dick stepped away from congregational ministry to work in the Division for Outreach, as Mission Director for Region 1 of the NW Washington Synod. Following six years in that role, he served with the Edmonds/Lynnwood Parish until his retirement from full-time ministry in 2005. Even in retirement, Dick never stepped away from the pulpit, as he took on the role of interim/transitional pastor for multiple congregations in the area.

Dick was a people-person who truly never met a stranger. At each of his congregations, he fulfilled his calling to be a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19). Never one to be short-winded, he proclaimed the Word with a passion that connected powerfully with the youth, families, individuals and community at large, everywhere he served.

Dick’s time in Port Angeles introduced him to a love of camping, hiking, and fishing in “God’s Country,” that he took with him through the rest of his earthly life. Whether it was with family or with Luther Leaguers, Dick reveled in time spent outdoors, proclaiming to all within a wide earshot, “This Is Livin’!” He shared his wisdom and adventurous spirit on many excursions in the great outdoors, from tent camping (aka real camping) in established campgrounds across the country, to hiking in the Cascasde Mountains and along the Pacific Northwest coast. He summitted Mount Rainier, and Mount Olympus and completed several sections of the Pacific Crest Trail. He was the master of breakfasts on a green Coleman stove, and champion architect of campsites in the middle of the wilderness or along the shore. Whether experiencing this passion for the back country with youth groups, or with his family, his love and respect of God’s creation was contagious. He lived his life with an appreciation of the ups and the downs, the calms and the storms, the sunshine and the rain…he lived for the opportunity to comb the shores, climb the hills, be in awe of the waterfalls, inspired by the landscapes, and could always find the perfect spot from which to admire the sunset.

In his later years, Dick drew from the many faith-nurturing lessons he learned along the trail, to face his journey with Parkinson’s Disease with courage, confidence and grace. His family would like to extend their thanks to the myriads of colleagues and friends that supported him in that journey. Special thanks to the amazing team of providers from Evergreen Hospice, and the compassionate personal caregivers from Right at Home of Snohomish County.

Dick is survived by his daughters Kathy Pace and Beth Vickery; grandchildren, Katy (Sam) Patzer, Ashley and Suzy Pace, John (Kelsey), Danae, and Molly Vickery, Emma (Sky) Quick; great-granddaughter Addy Vickery; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of fifty-nine years, Paulina Reinartz Wendt, and sister Patricia Wendt Matson.

Dick lived by the phrase attributed to Martin Luther, “He who sings, prays twice.” He sang with gusto and encouraged others to do the same. A service of celebration of Dick’s life will be held on August 2, 2025 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Everett, WA. Guests are invited to sing with gusto, as we join in an old-fashioned hymn sing at 1:30pm, and a service of worship and celebration beginning at 2:00pm. The service of celebration will be followed by a reception of light snacks and sharing of music and memories.

Well done, good and faithful servant.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to his alma mater, Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University or locally to Christ the King Lutheran Church of Snohomish, Washington.

Contributions can be directed as follows:

Trinity Lutheran Seminary

Capital University, Development Office

1 College and Main

Columbus, OH 43209-2394

Please indicate that your contribution is to be directed to the Capital University Trinity Fund

-or-

Christ the King Lutheran Church

1305 Pine Avenue

Snohomish, WA 98290