Judith Marie Wendt Obituary

Judith Marie Wendt, 82, passed away on Friday, November 10, 2023 in Leavenworth, KS.

Judy was born to Reinhold and Frieda Kumm on July 22, 1941, in Creighton, Nebraska.  She lived in Nebraska and Colorado (with brother, Allan, and sister, Sharon) until 1955 when her family settled in Leavenworth, Kansas.  Judy graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1958, and from Concordia Teachers College (Seward, Nebraska) in 1962.

In 1962, Judy married Donald (Don) Wendt at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Leavenworth, KS.  They moved to Greenville, MS, where Don served in the Air Force, and Judy began her teaching career.  Judy and Don moved back to Kansas in 1965 when their first child was born.  Judy stayed home while her children (Eric, Kevin, and Laura) were young.

Judy resumed teaching in 1973 as a preschool teacher and director, then taught Title I, followed by various grade levels at Leavenworth elementary schools.  Her passion for teaching led her to collect a variety of artifacts and objects to create innovative hands-on learning activities for her students.  Judy finished her career as a gifted teacher and coordinator in the Leavenworth Unified School District, retiring in 2003.

Judy spent her retirement continuing family genealogical research, canning, reading, traveling, and supporting her husband Don through cancer until his death in 2012.   She pursued many creative outlets including watercolor painting, weaving, rubber stamping, creating altered books, and quilting.  Judy always enjoyed spending time with family and created memories through birthday & holiday celebrations, and annual Wendt Christmas Cookie Bake.

Judy suffered a heart attack and several strokes in 2018, confining her to a wheelchair.  Judy continued to create, especially handmade cards which she used to write encouraging notes to all she knew, often sharing about God's love and plan of salvation.

Judy was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Lee Wendt. Judy is survived by her brother Allan (June) Kumm, sister Sharon (Larry) Dedeke; her three children Eric (Kasey) Wendt, Kevin (Jennifer) Wendt and Laura (Dan) Bagunu; and more than 12 grandchildren.

Visitation: Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 from 5 - 7 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church (2101 10th Ave, Leav., KS 66048).

Funeral:  Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church.  Burial at 11:00 AM at Leavenworth National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Worship Anew, 5 Martin Luther King Dr., Fort Wayne, IN 46825 or Trinity Lutheran Church, Leavenworth, KS.