John Wenzl

John Wenzl, 80, passed away Saturday, December 20, 2014. Born May 13, 1934 to Eugene and Margaret Wenzl of Valley Falls, Kansas. John attended schools in St. Mary's, Kansas, and Junior College in Kansas City. He served in the United States Air Force and the Reserves. In 1956, John married Bonnie. He returned to college at Kansas State University where he earned his Bachelor's Degree. While at K-State, he worked in the Biology Department with a professor who later offered him a job in Utah. John moved with his family to Salt Lake City in 1970, where he worked in the Biology Department at the University of Utah for more than 20 years. After retirement from the U of U, he worked for Salt Lake County in their Senior Centers program. An active member of the Catholic Church, John expressed his life-long love of music by singing in the church choirs of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Martin de Porres parishes. He enjoyed dancing throughout his life, and thoroughly enjoyed calling Bingo at church which inspired him to start a Bingo program at the Mt. Olympus Senior Center. John is survived by: his ex-wife, Bonnie; children: Michael, Mona (Mike), Kathryn (Joel) and Diane (Steve); 5 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law: Ben Wearing and Duane McKinney; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and many friends. Our family would like to express our deepest heartfelt gratitude to John and Elizabeth Peake, for their extraordinary care of our dad; additional thanks to Tender Care Hospice, and to all the doctors and health care providers who assisted in his care. A special Thank You to Sandee for years of friendship, care, and assistance. A Rosary will be held at St Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 4914 South 2200 West, Taylorsville, Utah 84129 on December 30, 2014 at 6:00 PM with a Memorial Mass at 6:30 PM. A reception will be held in the Parish Hall following Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Community Services of Utah, 745 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84102 or online at http://www.ccsutah.org/donate-now. Please share stories, anecdotes, or special thoughts below, or they may be sent privately to the email below.