David Robert Wendel, the son of Robert and Margaret (Lindeburg) Wendel, was born June 21, 1945, in Greeley, CO. David died February 23, 2021, at the Taylor Hospice House in Des Moines, IA, at the age of 75 years, 8 months, and 2 days.
David lived in New York and Indiana before moving to Iowa at a young age. He graduated from Manchester High School in 1963. After graduating, he attended Morningside College in Sioux City, IA, until his Junior year, when he transferred to the University of Dubuque. On December 17, 1966, David was united in marriage to Jane Fritz at the Oakland United Methodist Church. Upon graduation, David attended Dubuque Theological Seminary, where he graduated with a master’s in divinity in 1973. David served many churches over the years including Epworth, Farley, Elliott, Pilot Grove, Crescent Park, Sidney, Thurman, Estherville, and Newton. David served as the Ottumwa District Superintendent from 1994 until 2000. In 2004, he became the assistant to Bishop Gregory Palmer. He served in this capacity until 2006, when failing health caused him to retire. David then served Ivy Centennial Methodist Church, where he retired in 2010. In 2019, David and Jane moved to Ankeny.
David lived his life with a strong faith and love for God and for people. He found great joy in ministering to others and sharing with them the love of Jesus. He was a counselor to so many, pastor to people who were struggling, and constantly encouraging people in their walk with Christ. He was a very humble man with a gentle, giving spirit. His kindness and faithfulness was evident to the people in his congregations, his friends, and his family. Even in hospice, David spent some of his last days comforting his caregivers and praying with them.
David will be remembered for his sense of humor and great love for his family. He loved to smile, laugh, and have fun, and this was contagious. He was always finding new hobbies to occupy his free time including trains, fishing, building amazing projects in his shop, stargazing with his telescope, obtaining his pilot’s license, computers, tornado chasing, and taking long naps on a Sunday afternoon while listening to his favorite music.
One of David’s favorite parts of ministry was working with the youth groups in the churches he served. He often asked the question of those he met (including the young EMT who took him to Hospice) “Were you in the Youth Group in (Fill in the blank)?” He loved to keep in touch with many of these “kids” to see where God took them in life and through the years he continued to reminisce and speak so fondly of these groups.
Faithful and Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Pastor, and Friend, he will be greatly missed.
David is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jane Fritz Wendel of Ankeny, IA; his daughters, Jennifer and her husband, Jason and their two sons, Noah and Eli, of Olathe, KS, and Sara and her husband Gene and son, Ethan Jett of Littleton, CO: His brothers Steve and wife Maggie of Sioux City, IA, Mark and wife Pam of Ft Lauderdale, FL; and his sister, Merrianne and husband, Johnny of Sierra Vista, AZ. Also, two sisters-in-law, Leslie Cleaveland and husband Richard Cleaveland of Oakland, IA and Rozanne Nelson of Ankeny, IA; his brother-in-law, Lyle Bentley and his wife, Peggy of Camdenton, MO; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Margaret Wendel, his in-laws, Les and Judith Fritz and his sister-in-law, Marlene Bentley.
Memorials may be directed to Taylor Hospice House of Des Moines and Ankeny First United Methodist Church – Missions.
A private family service will be held at the Ankeny First United Methodist Church. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is assisting the family with arrangements.
You can watch the memorial service on Sunday, February 28, 2021, at 2:00 PM, at