Obit: Wendt, Robert "Bob" F. (1922 - 2006)

Transcribed by: Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Wendt, Pinkert, Schmit, Samspon, Pifer, Moline, Sisennop

---Source: Merrill Foto News (Merrill, Lincoln Co., Wis.) Wednesday, 29 Mar. 2006; page 10

---Wendt, Robert "Bob" F. (10 Jan. 1922 - 19 March 2006)

Robert F. "Bob" Wendt, 84, Minocqua, passed away Sunday, march 19, 2006, at Seasons of Life Hospice House, Woodruff, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Born Jan. 10, 1022, in Merrill, Robert was the son of Otto and Anna Wendt. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. Bob graduated from Merrill High Scholl in 1940 and showed his love for the outdoors, beginning his career as a fire tower man in Lake Tomahawk in Oneida County. His tenure with the state was interrupted by World War II. He served in the Army Medical Battalion from 1942-1946, becoming a staff sergeant. He crossed North Africa and spent most of his time in the Middle East.

Upon his discharge he entered the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated in 1949, earning degrees (as a proud student of Aldo Leopold) in biology and biological aspects of conservation. Bob renewed his career with the state in 1949 as a wildlife biologist working on ruffed grouse research at Ladysmith. He later accepted the district wildlife manager-s position at Ladysmith. During those years, Bob was involved in formulating many innovative resource management programs, including development of Taylor County's Pershing Wildlife Area. He was a prime force in Taylor County-s donation of 3,400 acres of tax delinquent land for the Pershing Area.

Bob received the Bill Grimmer Award in 1959 in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments, commitments and contributions to the Wisconsin Wildlife profession. Numerous awards further recognized his innovative approaches and his creative and forward thinking in resource management.

Bob also served as a Woodruff Area Wildlife supervisor, 1961-1970, and assistant district director, Black River Falls, 1970-1971. He accepted the Southern District assistant director position in Madison, 1971-1980. In his years of service he was honored to mentor others in their own resource management careers.

Among Bob's outstanding contributions to resource and wildlife management were his pioneering efforts to maximize habitat advantages for ruffed grouse and deer by adjusting timber sales on public lands; working closely with land and conservation committees of various county boards; recognizing and promoting the importance of private landowners and their contributions to resource management; and on scene commander in charge of cleaning up the Midwest-s largest oil spill in Jefferson County in 1973, recovering over 90 percent of one-quarter million plus gallons of crude oil upstream from Lake Ripley.

The family remembers the countless and diverse orphans of the woods in his loving, foster care-including a red-tail hawk, bear cub, fawn and beaver kit.

He retired in June 1980, after 31 years of state service. His retirement years were spent in Minocqua.

He was a charter member of the Ascension Lutheran Church and long time member of Toastmasters. Always passionate about public service, community improvement and the protection of the environment, he was a member of the: Value Engineering program, Oneida County Board, Minocqua Planning Commission, Minocqua/Kawaguesag Lakes Protection Assocation, and HYMC lifeline volunteers.

He enjoyed sharing his passion for hunting, fishing, gardening, traveling and life with his family.

Dearly loved and survived by his wife, Elaine, of 56 years; sons Michael (Abby), Bonney Lake, Wash.; Craig (Pat) Petoksy, Mich.; and Dan (Chris), Lino Lakes, Minn.; daughters Laurie (Jack) Pinkert, Madison; and Cathy (David) Schmit, Tomahawk; his much-loved grandchildren, Christopher, David (Jocelyn), Emily Pinkert, Katie Sampson (Mark), Megan, Jenny, Rob, Caleb, and Erin Wendt, and Chrsitianna, Michael, Caitlyn, Peter and Hannah Schmit, as well as a blessed family of people who also called him "Dad", "Papa Wendt", "Grandpa" and friend. He is further survived by his sisters Lydia Pifer, Battle Creek, Mich.; and Myrtle Moline, Wasilla, Alaska. He was preceded in death by his parents, and infant grandson Danny James Wendt, Petosky, Mich.; his brother Richard, Rhineland; and his sister Doris Siesennop, Bloomington, Minn.

Standing in his legacy, we can be challenged to pick up where he left off on his greatest environmental concern for us in the future. His deep desire was for each of us to realize the devastating and global affects of the quickly rising mercury levels in our air and waterways. He knew "that without a ground swell of support, we would not reach the elusive solution to mercury contamination. We are to be stewards of the earth!"

Memorial services were Thursday, March 23, at Ascension Lutheran Church, Minocqua. Memorials to Ascension Lutheran Church, P. O. B. 940, Minocqua, Wi. 54548, or Seasons of Life Hospice House, P. O. Box 770, Woodruff, Wis. 54568. Bolger Funeral and Cremation Services, Minocqua, served the family.

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