Frederick William Wentker Jr.

Frederick William Wentker, Jr. passed away peacefully on April 17th, 2026, surrounded by all his loved ones in San Francisco, CA. Fred was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1932 to Frederick William Wentker, Sr. and Henrietta Severina Pedersen.

He spent much of his childhood in Haddonfield, New Jersey, graduating from Haddonfield Memorial High School in 1950. Fred’s childhood was filled with football and tennis, dramatics, summers spent with cousins on the farm in Mishicot, Wisconsin, and his beloved Irish Setter, Copper. He attended Carleton College before earning his law degree from the University of Chicago in 1956. Fred married Jo Ann Shelly on August 16, 1958, in Freeport, Illinois.

He served as Assistant Attorney General for Illinois from 1956 to 1959 and continued in private practice in Illinois for another year before relocating to San Francisco and joining the Lillick McHose & Charles firm in 1961, where he remained as a distinguished maritime attorney until his retirement in 1996. Fred was a member of the San Francisco Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Maritime Law Association of the United States, and the International Bar Association—which ignited his passion for travel. In his retirement, he volunteered to help the retirement community by serving on the boards of Aldersly and the Elder Care Alliance.

Fred loved to host and entertain guests, especially visitors from out of town. The Wentkers’ guestbook reads like a passport with its variety of visitors’ locales: Norway, Japan, Holland, Brazil, Korea, France, Kuwait, Mexico, Canada, etc. Visitors from around the world were given an insight into San Francisco through Fred’s hospitality, his wife Jo Ann’s home cooked meals, and his son David’s magic tricks. Fred mentored young international lawyers coming for maritime law in San Francisco, and the Wentker house was the go-to spot from church to entertain international students, as well.

Regardless of where he was living, Fred remained an active participant in various communities throughout his life. When Fred and his family moved to San Francisco they promptly became members of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. He was also an active member of the Norwegian Club of San Francisco and the Sons of Norway for more than 50 years. In his retirement Fred pursued his love of golfing by joining the Saddle Creek Golf Club where he remained a member from 1999 until 2017. Fred’s most important community however was his family. He brought his children and grandchildren into many aspects of his life, championing and supporting them in all their endeavors. He will remain in our hearts.

Fred is survived by his wife Jo Ann, children Shelly (Scott), David (Sarah), Alison (Shane), and grandchildren Nicholas, Erika, Frances, Olivia, and Jackson.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution is suggested for the SF-Marin Food Bank, the Sons of Norway Peder P. Johnsen Scholarship Fund (ppjsf.org), or to a charity of your choice.