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
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Posted 7/14/2008
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