Wendell J Lorentz

Wendell J. Lorentz, age 90 of Mankato died Friday, March 12, 2010 at his home in Mankato.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church with Rev. John Wilmot officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday at Mankato Mortuary with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army or ISJ Hospice.

Wendell was born March 27, 1919 to Nicholas and Mary Lorentz in Mankato. He served in the United States Army in 1940 serving Central European Theater and Patton's Third Army until being honorably discharged in 1945. On April 12, 1956, Wendell was united in marriage to Ruth Sandmeyer in St. James, MN. In 1958, Wendell founded the Wendell Lorentz Construction and retired in 1985. The business still remains in the family. He was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church and a former member of the American Legion. Wendell enjoyed walleye fishing, hunting, and gardening, especially sweet corn.

Wendell is survived by his wife, Ruth Lorentz of Mankato; his two children: Robert "Bob" (Sherry) Lorentz of Lake Crystal and their children Nicholas and Andrew, and Randy Lorentz of Mankato and his children, Daniel and Sara; Dodie's children: Crystal, Brandon, and Adam; two great-grandchildren: Serna and Shane; four sisters: Charlotte Hutchins of North Branch, LaVonne (Wallace) Johnson of Lafayette, Eleanor (Don) Solem of Florida, and Elaine Spoor of Mankato; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Wendell was preceded in death by his daughter, Rosalie "Dodie" and three brothers: Romie, Gene, and Harvey.