Rhonda Lee Wendt
October 18, 1958 — January 16, 2016
If you are reading this, I am in Heaven having a glorious reunion with Jesus, my mom and dad, family members and friends.
I was born on October 18, 1958 to Viola Clara Olson and Olin David Baker in Harlan, Iowa. I attended school in Harlan and graduated from Harlan High School.
On May 21, 1977, I was united in marriage to my best friend and love of my life, Larry Wendt, Sr. Larry and I were blessed with three sons: Larry, Jr., Dan, and Nick. Dad and I are so proud of you.
All I ever wanted in life was to be a “MOM”. Larry worked hard so I could stay at home and raise our boys. When Nick started school, I went to work for B & R, Inc. in Lincoln, Nebraska for sixteen years. After that, I spent my time with family and friends. Being with my grandchildren was a joy for me, especially taking them to the park, out for lunch, teaching them, reading stories, making cookies, building forts with chairs, blankets, and pillows, rocking them to sleep, and making special memories together. I often heard “More Nanna, more Nanna!”.
Playing cards with Buzz and Elaine, especially Canasta, was also a joy for me; Buzz and Larry against Elaine and me. We had some good times together. I also enjoyed reading, movies, music, and working in my garden, volunteering my time to help with the Red Cross Bloodmobile when it came to town, and helping prepare lunch for members of our parish when they lost loved ones. Being a member of the Southside Gals was very important to me. Once a month, we went out to dinner, sharing things that were going on in our lives and enjoying each other’s company.
Spending time with my husband was priceless to me, especially the teasing and aggravating each other along with a lot of laughter and good times. When we found out I had cancer, Larry was my rock. Without him, I would have never been able to get through all my treatments. We also had the support of family and friends from town. Thank you all so very much.
Due to her health, Rhonda became a resident of Rose Vista in Woodbine, Iowa, where she died on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at the age of fifty-seven years, two months, and twenty-nine days. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Leonard Herbst.
She is survived by her husband Larry Wendt, Sr. of Portsmouth, Iowa; sons: Larry Wendt, Jr. and his wife Jill of Crestview, Florida, Daniel Wendt and his wife Traci of Adams, Nebraska, and Nicholas Wendt of Portsmouth, Iowa; six grandchildren: Clayton, Abigail, Jacob, Collin, Dylan, and Logan; two special grandchildren: David and Mia; sisters: Marlis Patten of Harlan, Iowa, Jolene Nielsen of Kevil, Kentucky, and Roberta Olson of Riverside, Iowa; other family members and many friends.
This is not “goodbye”, it’s “I’ll see ya later”. I love you all. ~Rhonda
I was born on October 18, 1958 to Viola Clara Olson and Olin David Baker in Harlan, Iowa. I attended school in Harlan and graduated from Harlan High School.
On May 21, 1977, I was united in marriage to my best friend and love of my life, Larry Wendt, Sr. Larry and I were blessed with three sons: Larry, Jr., Dan, and Nick. Dad and I are so proud of you.
All I ever wanted in life was to be a “MOM”. Larry worked hard so I could stay at home and raise our boys. When Nick started school, I went to work for B & R, Inc. in Lincoln, Nebraska for sixteen years. After that, I spent my time with family and friends. Being with my grandchildren was a joy for me, especially taking them to the park, out for lunch, teaching them, reading stories, making cookies, building forts with chairs, blankets, and pillows, rocking them to sleep, and making special memories together. I often heard “More Nanna, more Nanna!”.
Playing cards with Buzz and Elaine, especially Canasta, was also a joy for me; Buzz and Larry against Elaine and me. We had some good times together. I also enjoyed reading, movies, music, and working in my garden, volunteering my time to help with the Red Cross Bloodmobile when it came to town, and helping prepare lunch for members of our parish when they lost loved ones. Being a member of the Southside Gals was very important to me. Once a month, we went out to dinner, sharing things that were going on in our lives and enjoying each other’s company.
Spending time with my husband was priceless to me, especially the teasing and aggravating each other along with a lot of laughter and good times. When we found out I had cancer, Larry was my rock. Without him, I would have never been able to get through all my treatments. We also had the support of family and friends from town. Thank you all so very much.
Due to her health, Rhonda became a resident of Rose Vista in Woodbine, Iowa, where she died on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at the age of fifty-seven years, two months, and twenty-nine days. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Leonard Herbst.
She is survived by her husband Larry Wendt, Sr. of Portsmouth, Iowa; sons: Larry Wendt, Jr. and his wife Jill of Crestview, Florida, Daniel Wendt and his wife Traci of Adams, Nebraska, and Nicholas Wendt of Portsmouth, Iowa; six grandchildren: Clayton, Abigail, Jacob, Collin, Dylan, and Logan; two special grandchildren: David and Mia; sisters: Marlis Patten of Harlan, Iowa, Jolene Nielsen of Kevil, Kentucky, and Roberta Olson of Riverside, Iowa; other family members and many friends.
This is not “goodbye”, it’s “I’ll see ya later”. I love you all. ~Rhonda
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