Mrs. Florine Lillian Wendel of Fredericksburg passed away on December 19 at the age of 88. She was born to Felix William and Lilly Ida (Itz) Baethge on July 16, 1929 in Gillespie County TX. She was baptized and confirmed in Zion Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. Florine married Rev. Rudy O. Wendel on June 15, 1951 in Zion Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Wendel is survived by: three of her children - daughter Naomi Nielsen of Woodhull IL, son Mark William Wendel of Austin TX, and daughter Melissa Smith of Atlanta GA; sister Rosalee Heimann; 5 grandchildren - Clara Nielsen, Krista Johnson and husband Luke, Katrina Nielsen, Shareena Lewis and Tariq Smith; 3 great grandchildren - Toby Johnson, Asher Johnson and Joy Annaliese Lewis.
She is preceded in death by her husband Rev. Rudy O. Wendel, her parents Felix W. and Lilly Ida Baethge, son Nathan John Wendel, granddaughter Chelsi Lewis-Smith, and son-in-law Jim Nielsen.
Florine was born in the Baethge's home at Live Oak.  She went to school at Live Oak, Honey Creek, and Meusebach, being taught by her mother when bedridden during First Grade. She graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1947.  She then worked as a lab assistant at Keidel Hospital before attending Texas Lutheran College in 1948-49. She had fond memories of the opportunity she had to work at Muscatine Lutheran Homes in Muscatine Iowa during the next two years. She married Rudy Wendel in the spring of 1951. She worked at Social Welfare during a summer and 1951-52 while her husband interned at Holy Ghost Lutheran in Fredericksburg.
Florine enjoyed serving alongside her husband Rudy in churches at Sagerton and Sweetwater Texas during the next 5 years. From 1957 to 1960, they served as missionaries in Ethiopia, Africa.
Florine loved being a mother and homemaker. She remained busy as a Pastor's wife as they served churches at Bloomfield Iowa and St. John's Lutheran Church at Boyden Iowa. They also served churches at Lost Nation and Fort Dodge Iowa and Elmore Minnesota.
Florine loved and prayed for her family. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were especially dear to her. She also loved and prayed for her many dear friends. She enjoyed making new friends, visiting with people, and sharing their joys and sorrows. It was her delight to be part of the Cheer Committee, Evangelism Committee, Bible Study groups, and helping with Vacation Bible School.
Her hope and prayer for each of her family and friends was that they would know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. As Florine wrote in her own words; "Being a follower of Jesus is not always easy but…what joy we will all share as we worship and praise Him, the Lamb of God!"
Visitation with the family will take place at Fredericksburg Funeral Home from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on January 3, 2018.
Funeral service will take place on January 4, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in Zion Lutheran Church of Fredericksburg with interment to follow at Christ Lutheran Cemetery in Cherry Spring.

Pallbearers will be James Heimann, David Heimann, Frank Bryant, Jonathan Baethge, Nathan Crenwelge, John Eitman.

Memorials may be made to Water to Thrive https://www.watertothrive.org Open Doors USA https://www.opendoorsusa.org or the charity of choice.