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PITTSBURG —
Luke Wenzl, 75 of Pittsburg, Kansas passed away June 14, 2012 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. He was born July 11, 1936 in Tecumseh, Nebraska, the son of Leo P. and Christine E. (Christen) Wenzl. Luke attended St. Anthony’s Church/School in Steinaur, Nebraska, Maur Hill Prep School and Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. He studied art education at Emporia State University and Pittsburg State University.
Luke was a member of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison from 1963-1975. He served St. Benedict’s Parish from 1963-1965 and as a Benedictine Missionary in Brazil from 1965-1968. While in Brazil, he was injured in a car accident, which left him paraplegic. After returning to the states for rehabilitation, he began art studies and became an instructor at Maur Hill Prep School.
In 1975 he moved to the Pittsburg area and opened the Stone and Silver shop at 4th & Rouse, which provided custom-made silver jewelry. He continued in the arts as an instructor at Colgan-St Mary’s High School through 2000. He loved “his non-singing canaries”.
His life was extended in 2007 as a recipient of a kidney transplant as a true gift of love from his own live donor.
True to who he was, he continued his mission spirit through the ministry of the disabled for the Wichita Diocese/Camp Holy Family/and Faith and Light for Persons with Disabilities. For over 20 years he and Joanne were foster parents to many children in southeast Kansas.
Mr. Wenzl was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, and the Knights of Columbus in Pittsburg. Luke had several hobbies, including: gardening, bird watching, cooking and wine making.
Luke was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Mary Ann Wagner and his brother, Paul Wenzl He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Joanne Wenzl, his sister, Bernice Beals, and brothers, Louis, James, Leo, Donald, David and Tony Wenzl. He was loved by each member of the Wenzl and Luppino families. His legacy of acceptance and perseverance will live on.
Funeral Services will be 3:00 P.M., Monday, June 18, 2012 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Rosary will be recited at 6:30 P.M. Sunday, at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home. Family will receive friends following the Rosary until 8:00 P.M.
Inurnment will be in Pueblo, Colorado. Memorials may be made to the Knights of Columbus-Building Fund, Pittsburg, Kansas/ St. Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison, Kansas/ Divine Mercy Chapel, Steinaur, Nebraska. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 South Broadway, Pittsburg, Kansas, 66762.
Condolences may be sent online to www.bathnaylor.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg.
Luke Wenzl, 75 of Pittsburg, Kansas passed away June 14, 2012 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. He was born July 11, 1936 in Tecumseh, Nebraska, the son of Leo P. and Christine E. (Christen) Wenzl. Luke attended St. Anthony’s Church/School in Steinaur, Nebraska, Maur Hill Prep School and Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. He studied art education at Emporia State University and Pittsburg State University.
Luke was a member of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison from 1963-1975. He served St. Benedict’s Parish from 1963-1965 and as a Benedictine Missionary in Brazil from 1965-1968. While in Brazil, he was injured in a car accident, which left him paraplegic. After returning to the states for rehabilitation, he began art studies and became an instructor at Maur Hill Prep School.
In 1975 he moved to the Pittsburg area and opened the Stone and Silver shop at 4th & Rouse, which provided custom-made silver jewelry. He continued in the arts as an instructor at Colgan-St Mary’s High School through 2000. He loved “his non-singing canaries”.
His life was extended in 2007 as a recipient of a kidney transplant as a true gift of love from his own live donor.
True to who he was, he continued his mission spirit through the ministry of the disabled for the Wichita Diocese/Camp Holy Family/and Faith and Light for Persons with Disabilities. For over 20 years he and Joanne were foster parents to many children in southeast Kansas.
Mr. Wenzl was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, and the Knights of Columbus in Pittsburg. Luke had several hobbies, including: gardening, bird watching, cooking and wine making.
Luke was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Mary Ann Wagner and his brother, Paul Wenzl He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Joanne Wenzl, his sister, Bernice Beals, and brothers, Louis, James, Leo, Donald, David and Tony Wenzl. He was loved by each member of the Wenzl and Luppino families. His legacy of acceptance and perseverance will live on.
Funeral Services will be 3:00 P.M., Monday, June 18, 2012 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Rosary will be recited at 6:30 P.M. Sunday, at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home. Family will receive friends following the Rosary until 8:00 P.M.
Inurnment will be in Pueblo, Colorado. Memorials may be made to the Knights of Columbus-Building Fund, Pittsburg, Kansas/ St. Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison, Kansas/ Divine Mercy Chapel, Steinaur, Nebraska. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 South Broadway, Pittsburg, Kansas, 66762.
Condolences may be sent online to www.bathnaylor.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg.
