August Wendorf

August H. Wendorf, 87, of Wausau, died Thursday, November 13, 2014, at home with his wife of 65 years, Delores, at his side.

August was born on September 11, 1927, in Wausau to the late August L. and Mary A. Wendorf, the fifth of eight children. From humble beginnings August built a substantial life through his work ethic, devotion to family, and his friends. A patriot, August enlisted in the U.S. Army during W.W. II. He earned both the Victory Medal and the Occupation Medal when he joined the U.S. Constabulary in Germany. His service in Europe was one of the most significant experiences of his life and he never forgot the lessons of war.

Returning to Wausau, August met his future wife, Delores (Beilke), at the Marathon County Fair. They soon married and remained devoted to each other for 65 years. Their union resulted in two children, Sue (Jim) Wirth of Waunakee and Michael (Susan) of Ann Arbor, Michigan; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

After brief service as a firefighter, August took a job in the machine room of Wausau Paper in Brokaw. He worked continuously at Wausau Paper for 37 years until retiring in 1989.

August was a life-long woodsman and outdoorsman. Throughout his life he maintained a lake cottage up north spending his free time enjoying the woods and lakes of northern Wisconsin. Upon his retirement, he moved with his wife to the Eagle River area fulfilling a life-long dream to live in the woods on a lake. Fifteen wonderful years were spent up north.

In 2004 August and Delores returned to Wausau. These later years were spent with family and friends old and new. A strong and vigorous man, August maintained the family home completely on his own until age finally persuaded him to slow down. His final move was to Forest Park Village this past summer, not far from his childhood home and the home in which he and Delores raised their family.

August is further survived by brothers and sisters-in-law, LeRoy and Alice Beilke, Diane Beilke, Richard and Dolores Beilke, and Joan and Edward Cohen; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and all seven of his siblings; sisters, Imogene Edler, Marion Jacobi, Caroline Richey, and Lois Rock; and brothers, Ewald, Rodney, and James P. Wendorf.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 17, 2014, at Zion Lutheran Church, 709 Sixth St., Wausau, where August was baptized in 1942 and remained a member until his passing. Visitation will be Sunday, November 16, beginning at 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Helke Funeral Home, Wausau, and continue at the church on Monday at 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, town of Texas, with Military Honors provided by V.F.W. Burns Post #388.

You may sign the family guestbook at www.helke.com.

Memorials may be directed to the Zion Lutheran Church Capital Improvement Fund or Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services.

The family would like to thank Rev. Gjerde of Zion Lutheran Church for his counsel and guidance. Thanks as well to Matt and the entire staff of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services for the gentle and compassionate care provided.