James Kenneth Wendel of Spokane, WA passed away on December 15, 2019 at Hospice of Spokane House South in Spokane, WA.

Graveside services service for James Wendel, 75, will be held at Rindal Cemetery, 23511 100 ^th Ave. NW, Newfolden, MN on July 23 at 11:00 AM. Military honors will be provided by the Ecklund-Holmstrom American Legion Post 117, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2793 and Minnesota Army National Guard Honor Guard.

James Kenneth Wendel was born November 19, 1944 in Detroit Lakes, MN, son of Kenneth and Edna Wendel.  He graduated from Lincoln High School, Thief River Falls, MN in 1962.  He attended U of MN, U of ND and Lutheran Bible College.  He was drafted in 1965 but chose to enlist in the Army.  His military schooling was guided missile radar for the HAWK missile.  He spent 2 years in Germany in a replacement battalion but was never sent to Vietnam.  He was honorably discharged as a Technical Sergeant, E5, in June of 1968.

On June 21, 1970 he married Farryle June Parmely in Rose Hill church, Hand County, SD.  They had 2 children, Cara Luree and Wayne Kenneth.

During his lifetime Jim worked for many different companies: Northwestern Bell, Minneapolis, MN; Stan's Communications, E Grand Forks, MN; Gillette Radio Telephone, Gillette, WY; AirPage, Nextel and Sprint, Des Moines, IA.  His employers always commented on his excellent technical skills.  He was gifted in repairing anything electrical, electronic or mechanical.  He did many home construction projects for family and friends.

Jim had many and varied interests: music, guitar and harmonica, bible study, learning about God's creation, nuclear physics, cars, motors of all kinds, and hunting/fishing with family and friends.

He was ordained an elder in 1994 and preformed funerals and baptisms until he retired in 2008.  God and family was always his priority.  He enjoyed his grandchildren and loved to play with them.  He passes on to his children the legacy of helping others, honesty in all that you do, a strong work ethic and sound financial stewardship. He believed in a full day's work for a day's pay and going the extra mile. He always had a smart word for friends and loved to laugh.

Jim passed away peacefully on December 15, 2019 from kidney failure.  He leaves behind his wife Farryle, daughter Cara (Matt) Wurst, son Wayne (Pam Gross), and his three grandchildren; Grace Kaylin (16) and Luke James (12) Wendel; Kyra Elise (11) Wurst; sister Sharon (Bill) Hoglo, brother John (Barb), and many nephews, nieces and cousins.

Jim is preceded in death by his father Kenneth James Wendel;  step-father Oscar Mossestad; mother Edna Pauline Paulson Wendel Mossestad; and father-in-law Wayne Elsworth Parmely.