Frederick Wenzel

WENZEL, Frederick F., age 94, of Beaverton, Michigan and Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida, died Monday Morning, February 24, 2014 at the Villages of Jackson Creek in Independence, Missouri. Fred was born July 11, 1919 in Frankenmuth, Michigan the son of the late Henry L. and Pauline (Fink) Wenzel. Fred Married Eileen (Mogg) Wenzel on June 8, 1946 and she preceded him in death in 1995. Fred’s son, Eric Paul Wenzel also preceded him in death.

Fred was the final surviving child of eleven hard working and family centered children. Fred graduated from Saginaw Arthur Hill Technical School and served his apprenticeship as a Pattern Maker in Detroit before enlisting in the US Navy just prior to WW II. In 1943, while serving aboard the Light Cruiser USS Helena, Fred had the distinction of being the last person to leave the USS Helena as it sank in the South Pacific.

Following the War, Fred continued his pattern making career at numerous GM facilities before opening his own shop, Wenzel Pattern. Fred and Eileen moved to Frankenmuth in 1962 and lived there with their family until his retirement in 1981. Fred and Eileen spent their summers at Wixom Lake and their winters in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida until Eileen’s death in 1995. In 1998, Fred took up permanent residence in Florida and married Genevieve Dunaway.

Fred was a “builder” and “fixer” and found great joy in helping create or repair everything, especially if the repair project was made of wood. A few of Fred’s building projects included a wonderful two story brick home near Saginaw in the late 40’s, a fantastic lake cottage on Wixom Lake in Edenville, Mi (Fred said it would never be completed) and a Church building for his church, Community of Christ, in Saginaw where he served as a priesthood member.

Fred was blessed with a wonderful sense of humor, pride in his work, a special bond with children of all ages, joy in helping others and during retirement an appreciation of Golf. He will be missed.

Fred is survived by his wife, Genevieve; son Frederick R. (Chloette) Wenzel and daughter Jean P. (John) Noren; seven grandchildren Christa Manning, Erik Noren, Noah Wenzel, Emily Howe, Joy Avery, Katherine Blackmon, Nathan Wenzel and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be 12:00PM Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Community of Christ Church, Saginaw. Visitation will be 10:00AM Saturday until the time of service at the church. Interment will follow services at Roselawn Cemetery, Saginaw. Memorial contributions may be made to Outreach International at PO Box 210, Independence, MO 64051