Chesterton Tribune

Jean Therese Wenzel dies at 47

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Jean Therese Wenzel of Portland, Ore., formerly of Chesterton, died peacefully at her home on June 24, 2008.

She was born April 27, 1961, in Valparaiso, the daughter of Gerald and Mary Ann Wenzel. Her father passed away in Dec. 2007. She is survived by her mother.

She is also survived sisters, Karen Weigel and Meg (Sam) Kovacs; a brother, Peter Wenzel; three nephews, Alex, Colin and Ian; and her beloved Pug, Betty Davis.

Speaking Icelandic, West African Krio, hiking, and inventing knitting patterns were only a few of Jean Wenzel’s many talents.

Jean attended Chesterton High School and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a dual degree in literature and international relations. Her adventurous life included spending a year in Iceland, working on a shrimp boat in the Faroe Islands, international development work in the Netherlands, Germany and Kenya, two years in Sierra Leone, West Africa, in the Peace Corps, and a year in Pakistan working for U.S. AID at a refugee camp.

Jean settled in Portland and has worked for many years as a writer, contributing to various magazines, local papers, web sites and books. She had taught writing and knitting classes at the community college and been host of a weekly NPR program. She was very active in the knitting community. She currently worked in St. Vincent’s emergency room, where she boosted co-worker morale and collected clothing to send to Afghanistan. Jean was a very loving person and will be deeply missed.

A memorial visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, 517 Broadway, Chesterton, with a wake service at 7 p.m.

Memorials may be made to the Share Foundation with the Handicapped, PO Box 400, Rolling Prairie, IN 46371, or to a charity of one’s choice. www.ee-fh.com

 

Posted 7/14/2008

 

 

 

 

 

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