Obituary for Wendy Jean Grenz Print Wendy Jean Norgaard Grenz, 65, was born to Don and Ada Norgaard July 1, 1953, in Tyler, Minnesota and grew up on the Norgaard farm near Tyler. She graduated from Tyler High School in 1971 with her future husband. On November 24, 1972, she married Laurel Grenz, and a few months later the young couple bought a house in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Their sons Aaron and Micah were born there. A few years later, Laurel’s job took the family to Indianapolis in 1981 and then to the Chicago area in 1993. Planning ahead for retirement, they purchased an acreage on the side of Bon Air Mountain east of Sparta in 2008 and moved their retirement house onto the property.
Wendy was preceded in death by her parents and Laurel’s parents (Lloyd and Marilyn Grenz). She leaves behind her husband Laurel; sons Aaron (Nicole), Arden Hills, MN, and Micah (Gretchen), Sparta, TN; grandsons Karsten and Benjamin; granddaughters Kaitlyn, Kiernan, Paige, Teagan, Emma, and Avalyn; brother, David Norgaard, Lake Benton, MN; sisters Carolyn Van Loh, Westbrook MN, and Valerie Thomason, Danbury, WI. Wendy was always active in the Baptist church the family attended at all locations.
She worked in the Christian day schools the sons attended in Minneapolis, MN, Indianapolis, IN and Schaumberg, Il. Ministering to people of all ages has been Wendy’s passion. She and Laurel conducted Sunday afternoon services bimonthly at Life Care Center of Sparta, worked with youth ministries at Sparta Calvary Baptist Church, supported Go Pink cancer survivor group, attended the Senior Center group and Welcome Neighbors.
Camp Grenz each summer at the Grenz home, a highlight for the grandchildren, included camp T-shirts, a number of active games and an annual treasure hunt. Visitors to Wendy’s home would easily find evidence of her special interests: the word JOY, nativity sets, patriotic decorations, framed family photos and photo scrapbooks, and framed Bible verses or related wall hangings expressing her faith in God. Funeral services for Wendy will be held at 2pm on Monday, February 4, 2019, in the chapel of Oak Lawn Funeral Home, with Pastor Robert Yockey officiating.
Burial will follow in Oak Lawn Memorial Cemetery. Visitation with the family will take place Sunday, February 3, 2019 from 2pm until 5pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the Vanderbilt Breast Center at the One Hundred Oaks location.
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