Delores M Wendorf

Delores Mae Wendorf (née Beilke), 93, of Wausau passed away peacefully on February 3, 2023 after a brief illness.

Delores was born on November 21, 1929, in Wausau to the late Harris and Esther Beilke (Gruening), the second of five children. Delores  graduated from Wausau High School where she was active in the YWCA and developed a close circle of girl friends. Those friendships, and many others, forged through family, friendly games of cards and service to church and neighborhood were constants throughout her long and giving life.

 Delores also attended the annual marathon county fair with her friends as a young woman.
In the summer of 1948 she met August Wendorf, a handsome soldier who had recently returned from extended service in Germany as a member our nation’s occupation forces.  Delores married August on August 6, 1949 at Trinity Lutheran Church surrounded by family, friends and white Gladioli that her father Harris, had grown in staggered plantings at their family home on West Street to assure fresh flowers for Delores’ wedding day.  She was also attended by her darling little sister Joan, then aged just 4, who served as flower girl.  Delores and Joan would remain especially devoted to each forever.

Delores and August were also devoted to each other and their family during 65 years of marriage. They maintained homes in Wausau and cabins on the lake up north. Their marriage resulted in the births of two children, Sue Wirth of Fitchburg and Michael (Susan) of San Francisco, California; grandchildren Ashley Swokowski (Brent), Alyssa Foley (Donny), Sarah Wirth, Joseph Wendorf and William Wendorf; and six great grandchildren Natalie, Carter, Charlotte, Jack and Ava Swokowski and Layla Foley.


Delores was not only a devoted wife, mother, grandma, great grandma and friend. Delores was also a devout Lutheran, initially at Trinity Lutheran Church, and during her long and happy marriage at Zion Lutheran Church.  Delores provided countless hours of selfless service to her church and its congregation as a leader and contributing member to its women’s service groups.

Delores moved to Forest Park Village with her husband in 2014 and remained there until moving into the nearby Gardens in 2022, not far from the home she made for her family.

Delores is survived by her brother Richard Beilke and beloved little sister Joan and Joan’s husband Edward Cohen; and many nieces and nephews.

Delores was preceded in death by her husband August on November 13, 2014, her parents and husband, by her brothers and sisters-in-law LeRoy and Alice Beilke, Gerald and Diane Beilke, and sister-in-law Dolores (Doe) Beilke as well as her grandson Daniel Wirth.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at Zion Lutheran Church, 709 Sixth Street, preceded by visitation beginning at 9:00 that morning in the Sanctuary.  Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park, Town of Texas.