Erland S. Wentzell

Erland Stanley Wentzell died peacefully on Saturday, August 7, 2010 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House surrounded by his family. He was born May 18, 1919, son of Stanley Hugo Wentzell and Millie Baker in Oxford, Maine. He grew up in Bethel, Maine graduating from Gould Academy and Bates College. Erl had fond memories of his youth including helping around the farmstead on Mason Street and working with his father on lumber operations in Western Maine.

He met his first wife, Marilyn Howe, at Gould Academy. They married in 1942. In 1950, with a young son and daughter, they boldly moved to Calcutta, India where Erl managed the Ludlow Jute Company which employed several thousand workers. Their second daughter was born in India. After traveling in Europe, the Middle East and Scandinavia during vacations, they returned home permanently in 1956. They lived in Farmington, where their third daughter was born, before settling in Falmouth, Maine when Erl took a job with S.D. Warren. Tragically Marilyn died in 1960.

In 1964 Erl married Margaret Robinson Steeves and became step-father to her two children. The family moved to Sebago finding an old Cape Cod home which Erl himself improved with an addition, three-car garage, horse barn and wood shed. In Sebago he and Margaret were leaders in the Sebago Maple Grove Grange and State Grange for over 30 years. They were instrumental in starting AFS Intercultural Programs at Lake Region High School and hosted the school’s first exchange student, Peter Hurrell from Zimbabwe.

Erl was a member and chairperson of both the Falmouth School Board and the Lake Region School District. He was an active member of the Falmouth Congregational Church and the Sebago Center Community Church.

Upon retirement from S.D.Warren, Erl enjoyed relaxing at their rustic camp on the coast and working on his numerous hobbies which included weaving, cross-stitch, hooked rugs, gardening and fine woodworking. Erl came into his own when he discovered wood carving. His “tour de force” is a miniature replica of a woods sled loaded with eleven cords of wood being pulled by two horses. He donated it to the Bethel Historical Society, where it is currently on view.

Erl loved his family. He loved family gatherings. He will be deeply missed by his wife, children, seventeen grand children, fifteen great-grandchildren, his brother and sister.

Erl is survived by his wife Margaret, brother Rodney Wentzell of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and his sister Mary Eichel of Auburn, Massachusetts and Bethel, Maine.

Erl is survived by his children: C. Stanley Wentzell, wife Toot of Exeter, New Hampshire, Judith Wentzell, husband Huey Coleman of Portland, Rowena Wentzell Strout, husband Larry of North Waterboro, Shirley Wentzell Keene, husband Matthew of Rochester, New York and his step-children Bonnie Dwyer, husband Tom of Manchester, Gerald Steeves, wife Jan of Gray,

The family would like to thank Erl’s staff and friends at Birchwoods which has been his home for the last few years as well as Hospice of Southern Maine which made his final week a comfort to him and his family.

A memorial service will be held on Friday August 13 at 12:30pm at Jones, Rich & Hutchins funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portland, Maine. A reception will follow at the Woodfords Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Bethel Historical Society, P.O. Box 12, Bethel, ME 04217 or Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 US Rte 1, #1, Scarborough, ME 04074. A private burial will be held at a later date in Bethel.

Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Erl’s guestbook.