Allen Martin Wendel, 91, finished his life’s work in the early morning hours of a Sunday morning and slipped away to rejoin his beloved wife Eileen and the many loved ones that had preceded him. He passed away in the home of his beloved son surrounded by the love of many family members.
Allen was born in Salt Lake City as the son of a first generation German emigrant to this country. During his early years, the family moved to Frontier, Wyoming for work in the coal fields of Wyoming.
He graduated from Kemmerer High School in 1937 and joined the Civilian Conservation Corp living in the barracks of the CCC and working in the wilds of Wyoming. When WWII broke out in December of 1941, Allen began working in the Seattle-Tacoma shipyards in Seattle, Washington building Fletcher class destroyers and other ships. He met his future wife, Eileen who was working in the Tool Shop handing out implements for the workers. He began courting Eileen and they both decided to go on LDS missions. Allen served his mission in the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific and returned and married Eileen in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, November 24, 1948. They moved to Bountiful to live in the home that Allen had purchase and spent the next 61 years together in that house.
They had five children of their own and later fostered another child making six in the family. They became members of the great Bountiful Second Ward for 63 years providing many years of service in many church callings and to many in need in the family and in the community. Allen went to work for Phillips 66 and retired in 1985 after 36 years of service. He often helped out co-workers and was referred by them as “Big Al” during his working years.
In later years, as Eileen grew frail, Allen carefully and lovingly provided for her needs for many years without complaint. Eileen passed away in July of 2010 and Allen continued living at home by himself until the fall of 2011. Allen moved into the home of his son, Doug, in Ephraim, Utah in November of 2011 and received loving care and service until he passed away on a bright Sunday morning.
Allen was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lina Wendel and his older brothers, Leroy, Joseph, Clarence, George, John and his younger sisters, Lillie and Pearl. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife, Eileen in 2010, his oldest son, James Allen Wendel (Big Jim) in 2011, and a granddaughter, Bridget Kate Wendel in 1977.
He is survived by his children: Doug (Sylvia) Wendel, Nancy (Bruce) McMonagle, Richard (Richelle) Wendel, Gary (Kathy) Wendel, and Joel (Annette) Wendel. 66 descendants: six children, 26 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren, with two on the way.
The family wishes to express at thank you to those who provided special service to Allen during these last years: Jared and Brandi Wendel and Jason and Audrey Wendel for their many years of service caring for Allen and for his home. Doug and Sylvia Wendel, and Gunnison Home Health, for the last six months of loving care as Allen’s life drew to a close, and the many members of the Second Ward who regularly visited and helped around the home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 28, 2012 at the Bountiful Second Ward, 650 South 200 East. A viewing will be held Wednesday evening from 6:30-8 p.m. at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main, and Thursday morning 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be directly afterwards in the Bountiful Lakeview Cemetery next to his beloved wife. Online guest book at www.russonmortuary.com
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