Obituary: Wenzel R. Sternard

Wenzel R. Sternard, 75, of Sturgeon Bay passed away at Bellin Hospital on August 5, 2016. He was born August 21, 1940 in a little white house in Whitefish Bay right outside of Valmy to Richard and Mable (Wilke) Sternard.  On March 26, 1960 he married Ellie Konrad at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Valmy.

Wenzel grew up on a farm in Institute and graduated from Sevastopol High School in 1958.  In his earlier years, he owned a cab company and a handicap bus service.  In 1984, he bought The Stein in Sturgeon Bay, operating it for almost 25 years.

Wenzel enjoyed sports and played flag football until he was in his fifties.  He loved the Packers and the Brewers and even watched the Vikings with his wife Ellie.  His true passion was driving campers for the Nevilles and cars for Witt Ford and Jim Olson Motors.  He also enjoyed country music, especially Johnny Cash.  Wenzel’s best memories were the years of stock car driving and becoming grandparents when Karli and T.J. were born in 1979.

Survivors include his wife Ellie; three children, Jeanne (Perry) Popour, Todd (Julie) Sternard, and Penny Sternard, all of Sturgeon Bay; grandchildren, Karli (Jim) Edgerton, T. J. (Tara) Sternard, Phil (Marissa) Popour, Katie Jo (J.V.) Bosman, Kaitlyn Popour and Joe Popour; great- grandchildren, Keanna, Alaina, Jada, Quincy, Edie, Jace, Cole, Annabelle, Giselle, Layna, and “one to come soon” Wenz James; nine siblings, Darrell (Bev), Lester (Marsha), Nina (Alan) Heckler, Peter, Donna (Tony) Fox, Gene (Sharon), Glenn (Bette), Ken (Jill), and Rick (Rachel); sister-in-law, Donna Eicher.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Robert, great-grandson Brayden Wenzel, sister-in-law Diane Sternard, nephew Chuck Sternard, parents-in-law Vernon and Pearl Konrad, brothers-in-law, Vernon Jr. and Dan Konard, sister-in-law, Carol (Bob) Shaffer, niece Linda Konrad-Thompson.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay.  Burial will be in Bayside Cemetery.

Special thanks to Door County Medical Center, the Sturgeon Bay Fire Dept. and Paramedics, and the Bellin ICU for the wonderful care and support.