Willard D. Wendt

Willard Donald Wendt, age 85, passed away September 27, 2019 in Hastings, MN. Will was born in Lake Elmo, MN to Emma and Arthur Wendt. At 17, Will left the farm to serve in the Navy. From 1952 to 1955 he was an engine man on ships in Japan and Alaska. He studied refrigeration engineering at Dunwoody Technical Institute and spent decades serving commercial, agricultural, and residential customers. Will married Jane Herrick in 1956. They raised their three children in Hastings. Hunting was something he always looked forward too, as well as fishing in Canada. In retirement, Will and Jane spent time traveling around the country visiting their many relatives and friends. Will could fix or improve just about anything. He took great pride in his work. He was a gentle giant and a good friend. He was a prankster throughout his life, including the ability to make tootsie rolls and pennies rain from the ceiling. He had a ready supply of jokes and a fondness for red tiger kitties. He is preceded in death by his parents and wife, Jane. He is survived by children, Carol (John Durham), Anne Hemstock, and Joseph (Laurie); grandsons, Joel Durham, Jacob Hemstock, Andrew Wendt, Alan and BrIan Reichel; great granddaughters, Alanna and Amerakiss Reichel, and siblings, Arnold, Elsie, Mary Lou, Arthur Jr, Rosemarie, Gery, Dorothy and Gretchen; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, October 8 at 10:30 AM at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 202 W. 8th St. in Hastings. A gathering will be held one hour prior to the service at church. Interment, Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorial gifts will be forwarded to the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Rochester, MN.