Eloise J. (Henry) Wendel

ELOISE J. (Henry) WENDEL

Eloise J. (Henry) Wendel was born January 3, 1937 in Harrisonville, Missouri and departed this life on March 3, 2024 at Carnegie Village Senior Living in Belton, Missouri at the age of 87 years and 2 months.

She was the daughter of Milton Roy, Sr. and Mabel Rose (Lehman) Henry.

Eloise spent her entire life in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. She was a 1955 graduate of Pleasant Hill High School. During her high school years, she worked at Campbell’s Drug Store in Pleasant Hill.

 On September 4, 1955, Eloise was united in marriage with Donald W. “Don” Wendel and they began their life together on their farm in Pleasant Hill. Elosie was not only a wife, mother and homemaker, but became an integral part of running the dairy farm. She milked cows, raised bobby calves, handwashed the milking utensils, and was the farm bookkeeper, all while raising her 4 children. In 1993, Eloise went to work in the cafeteria at Pleasant Lea Elementary School and worked there until her retirement in 2002.

Eloise’s life revolved around her family and her faith. She loved hosting birthday parties for her children and grandchildren, and always baked a birthday cake for each and every one of them. Eloise loved to gather all her family together for holiday celebrations, and each one left those gatherings knowing how very loved and special they were to her. She encouraged her grandchildren to aspire to great things and follow their dreams, even though it might be hard to achieve what they wanted, never give up, for the best was yet to come.

Eloise enjoyed gardening, raising flowers, and traveling, especially to Branson, Missouri. In 2005, her son, Bill, surprised her with a trip to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, something she said she always wanted to do.

Eloise was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Pleasant Hill, Missouri.

Eloise was preceded in death by her husband Don W. Wendel; her parents, Milton Roy, Sr. and Mabel Rose Henry, and one brother, Milton R. Henry, Jr.

She is survived by two sons, William (Bill) Wendel and wife Judith of Harrisonville, Missouri, and Robert (Bob) Wendel and wife Amelia of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; two daughters, Linda Wendel of Wamego, Kansas and, Mary Kurtz and husband Mark of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Gretchen Jellison, Alisa Doan and husband Tyler, and David Wendel all of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Carolyn Agee and husband Steve of Kingsville, Missouri, Michael DeHaven and wife Loren of Salina, Kansas, Baillie DeHaven and husband Chris of Pensacola, Florida and Melissa Turney and husband Travis of Harrisonville, Missouri; ten great-grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.

The family of Eloise J. (Henry) Wendel will receive friends from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2024 at the Wallace Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill, Missouri where a funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Jim Vest officiating. Casket Bearers will be Bill Wendel, Bob Wendel, David Wendel, Mark Kurtz, Tyler Doan and Mike DeHaven. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. at Floral Hills Cemetery, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri 64133.

Contributions “In Memory of Eloise Wendel” are suggested to Advance Home Health and Hospice, and may be sent to 9233 Ward Parkway, Suite 275, Kansas City, Missouri 64114, or may be left at the funeral home.