Father of Melissa Wendler Steinecker ’77 & Laura Wendler Schneider ’75 passed away passed away

Peter Wiant WENDLER

|   Visit Guest Book

WENDLER Peter Wiant Peter Wiant Wendler died from
cardiac arrest October 17, 2011, at St. Luke’s Hospital. Peter was born. April
27, 1932, to Anne (Wiant) and Willis J. Wendler, Fremont, Ohio. He attended
Fremont Schools until 1947, graduating from Gibsonburg High School in 1950. Pete
majored in Business Administration at the Ohio State University, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi
fraternity and met his future wife Marilyn (Marty) Van Voorhis. He left OSU
after his sophomore year to enter the Naval Aviation Officers Flight Training
Program in Pensacola, Florida. After marrying in 1954, the couple relocated to
Jacksonville, Florida, while Pete flew hurricane reconnaissance missions. A
member of the original squadron of famed “Hurricane Hunters,” Pete was the
youngest officer to achieve the rank of Plane Commander in his Airborne Early
Warning VW4 Squadron. In 1957 Pete completed degrees in business administration,
marketing, and advertising at OSU. Later, he joined his father in business at
the National School of Meat Cutting in Toledo. The only educational enterprise
of its type at the time, the school retained an international student-body, with
close relationships with numerous culinary institutions and grocery concerns.
Initially the co-owner, registrar, and director of the Home Study Course, Pete’s
involvement eventually lead to co-ownership of the school’s Toledo location and
Kurtz Market, a Toledo downtown landmark. Pete served as chairman of the local
Beta Theta Pi Toledo area alumni club and was an active member of the Toledo
JayCees. After a short-lived early retirement in the mid 1980’s, his passion for
boating inadvertently lead to a new career in the marine business with Lakeside
and North Harbor Marinas, ultimately accepting a position with Bodette Marine
Supply of Toledo. A Maumee resident since 1959, Pete served on Maumee City
Council, the Maumee Plan Commission, and the Maumee Administrative board for 22
years, 18 of which as chair. He was chairman of the Citizens Committee for
Schools, President of Union School PTA, and a founder of the Old Maumee
Association. Memberships include: the American Legion Post 333, Quality of Life
Committee, Maumee Valley Historical Society, Ohio History Society; Maumee Valley
Heritage Corridor, The Toledo Country Club (past) and St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church. A member of the Navy Hurricane Hunters Association, he continued to
follow the paths of every hurricane with great interest. Above all, he was the
quintessential family man whose greatest enjoyment was spending time with his
grandchildren and walking his golden retrievers. Pete is survived by his wife,
Marty: daughters, Laura Schneider (Kevin) and the Reverend Melissa Steinecker
(Robert); son, Andrew (Leigh); and his seven grandchildren and one great
grandchild. His brother, Dr. Willis J. Wendler, preceded him in death. A
Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, at St.
Paul’s Episcopal Church Maumee, OH, the Reverend J. Paul Board. There will be a
reception held at the church immediately following the memorial service. The
family will greet friends on Friday, October 21, from 3:00 – 6:00 at St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church. Arrangements are being handled by the Marsh Funeral, Luckey,
OH. Considerations for memorial contributions are: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
or Maumee Valley Historical Society. Those wishing to express a word of
encouragement, share a memory or photo may do so at www.marshfuneralhomes.com

Published in Toledo Blade on
October 19, 2011