Mary Clare Wendel

Mary Clare Wendel, age 98, of Clinton, IA, passed away Thursday, April 6, 2023 at the Alverno Nursing Home in Clinton. A funeral Mass will be held Friday, April 14, 2023 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Preston, IA at 11 a.m. A scripture wake service will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at the church, leading into a visitation from 4 p.m. to 7p.m. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to Friday’s Mass. Family and friends are invited to share in Mary’s life at lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Mary was born November 24, 1924 in Petersville, IA, the daughter of Martin and Susan (McClintock) Burke. During her childhood, the Great Depression necessitated that her farming family move to South Dakota, where her mother was granted a homestead due to her Native American heritage. She graduated from Colome High School in South Dakota, then enrolled, and graduated from Mount Mercy School of Nursing, in Cedar Rapids, IA. She also served in the US Cadet Nurse Corps.

With World War II in full swing, Mary went to work for the Rock Island Arsenal. She then settled in as a registered nurse for Dr. Schaffer and Dr. Marme, in DeWitt, IA. It was during this time that she met Donald Paul Wendel, through her brother. She and Donald were married on August 19, 1947, in DeWitt. She returned to nursing after her youngest children were in school. She worked at Community Care in Charlotte, Iowa and later at Mercy Hospital in Clinton in the Pediatric Department.

As Mary and Donald set off to build their family, Mary assumed the most important role of her life, that of being a mother. She and Donald raised 10 children always instilling the values of hard work, and following the word of God, as active members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Bryant IA, then after its closing, St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Preston. They would attend Mass every Sunday, and each evening during the Lenten season, their entire family would pray the Rosary.

Mary loved to golf and spend her winters in South Padre Island with Donald. She kept beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, and spent many hours canning; a habit learned during the depression years. She found peace quilting, and always loved a good game of euchre with her friends and family. Family was everything to Mary Clare, and she rarely missed an opportunity to spend time with those she loved.

Mary Clare will be dearly missed by her children, Jerry (Terry) Wendel, of Rohnert Park, CA, Mary Ellen (Ron) Smith, of Clinton, Joe (Deb) Wendel, of Clinton, Jean Neumann, of Clinton, Joan (Lee) Good, of Bettendorf, IA, Steve (Kelly) Wendel, of Clinton, Laura (Marty) Cavanagh, of DeWitt, Don (Mary) Wendel, of LeClaire, and Phil (Kelley) Wendel, of Mediapolis, IA; daughter-in-law, Brenda Wendel, of Portland, ME; 22 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; siblings, Sr Francis OSF, Jim (Maurita), Jack, Steve and Sr Donna OSF; and sisters-in-law, Karen Wendel and Jean Wendel. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Susan; husband, Donald; son, Thomas; grandson, Aaron Smith; granddaughter, Jill Walters; great-grandson, Matthew Davidson; siblings, Don, Bill (Pat), George (Jean), Ruth (Pat), and Jerry (Elvera); sisters-in-law, Teresa, Mary Ann and Darlene; and brothers-in-law, Godfrey, Gene and Dick.