Flora Ann Wendling

Wendling, Flora Ann (Nan), aged 89, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 24, 2025 surrounded by love and family.

She was preceded in death by her husband Michael G. Wendling, her parents George and Elda (Flora) Kuehn, and in-laws, Michael and Olga (Humminski) Wendling of Muskegon, Michigan, her sister-in-law Karen (Peets) Kuehn, brother-in-law Sam Wendling and much-loved cousins, aunts and uncles. She was born on September 30, 1935 in Muskegon, Michigan and graduated from Muskegon High School in 1955 and continued on to attend the University of Iowa.

Mike and Nan were born in the same month and both raised in Muskegon yet attended different school systems. Mike went to Western Michigan University with his dear friend Tom Scott. They decided to join the Army to help pay for school. Nan and Mike met while working at a Muskegon hospital and began a courtship two weeks before Mike shipped out to the service. While Mike was stationed in Korea, their love blossomed by writing letters and exchanging photos and ultimately, they were married June 7, 1958 in Muskegon. They moved to Iowa City, Iowa while Mike finished his education at University of Iowa and they were near dear family, the Flora’s, and made lifelong friendships. They eventually settled in Kalamazoo, Michigan with their three children where Mike was employed at the Upjohn Company for 25 years. The family enjoyed summering at their beloved cottage, the Dove, in South Haven, Michigan for 20 years. Nan loved to walk the shore of Lake Michigan looking for treasures in the form of beach glass, rocks, fossils and drift wood.

Nan possessed an artistic spirit and had a deeply creative and imaginative mind. She dabbled in painting and drawing in her younger years. She was a member of the Weavers Guild of Kalamazoo in the 1980’s and her love of weaving was only rivaled by her love to knit. She knit beautifully; scarves, capelets, sweaters, shawls, ponchos lovingly for her family and friends. In between projects, she knit dish cloths in anticipation of her next project.

Nan had a fiercely dear heart for those she loved and lived her life with graceful will and determination. Nan is survived by her brother George A. (Geo) Kuehn, Jr., sister-in-law Lydia (Wendling) Strouf; three children: Gregory A. (Kathryn) Wendling, Michele (Michael) Sterner and Jennifer (Todd) Holm; grandchildren: Salem Wendling, Greer (Kevin) Wendling, Amara Fink and many generations of beloved relatives.

A private family memorial will take place at a later date.

Please send donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.