Roger D. Wentz

Roger Dale Wentz, 71, Hager City, died Wednesday, March 18 at his home. Roger was born June 15, 1937, in Bowdle, South Dakota, the son of Valentine and Sophie (Jackober) Wentz. He moved to Diamond Bluff with his family in 1945 and he attended Prescott schools. He was a meat cutter at Sundberg's Grocery and then worked at S. B. Foot Tannery for over 40 years, retiring in 1999. He married Connie Sundell on October 4, 1957 and they later divorced. They remarried on March 21, 1970. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Red Wing. He served on the Diamond Bluff Town Board for many years and he oversaw the construction of the town hall kitchen and boat landing in which he was very proud of. He played the accordion in the Roger and the 4 Kings band and also at the nursing home. He also served as caretaker of Diamond Bluff Cemetery. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, listening to the Big Joe Polka Show and Party Line.

Survivors include his wife, Connie of Hager City; three children, Julie (Randy) Thompson, Tim (Jeni) Wentz and Melissa (Steve) Langer, all of Diamond Bluff; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four sisters, Lois Kask, Ruth (Morris) Jung, Linda (Dale) Kinneman all of Diamond Bluff and Charlotte (Jim) Huppert of Prescott. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Fred Wentz; one son, Tom Wentz; half-brother, Valentine Wentz; numerous aunts and uncles.

Memorial service will be 1 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2009 at First Lutheran Church in Red Wing with Reverend Christine Engstrom officiating. Burial will be in Diamond Bluff Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and at the church for one hour prior to the service.