Wendl, Michael John

Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Thursday, May 22nd, 2025.

Beloved husband of Betty Wendl (nee Holzinger); devoted father of Michael C. (Pamela) Wendl, Steven (Stephanie) Wendl, and Susan (Stephen) Gallagher; cherished Opa of Nicholas, Thomas, Joe (Becky), Alex (Shelby), and Amy Wendl, Daniel and Tony Gallagher, and the late Michael R. Wendl; adoring Ur-Opa of Matthew and Andrew Wendl; dearest son of the late Michael and Mary Wendl (nee Mueller); loving brother of the late John (survived by Maria) Wendl; our dear uncle, great uncle, brother-in-law, cousin, and friend to many.

Michael was born on June 6th, 1934 in Sacalaz, Romania. Displaced by the fighting of World War II, he, with his brother, his mother, and grandparents, fled from their home in 1943, arriving in St. Louis in 1946. He attended grade school at Saints Peter & Paul; attended Hadley Technical high school; worked many entry level jobs, such as selling newspapers and working as a grocery store cashier.  He attended Washington University, and graduated in 1958 with a BS in Electrical Engineering.  While attending Wash U, he worked for Union Electric in the field.  He received his Master’s degree in 1961, and went onto work for McDonnell Aircraft (later known as McDonnell Douglas, and later as Boeing).  Over his 38 years of employment, he worked on the Mercury and Gemini Space programs, the AV8B Harrier, and multiple fighter jets, including the F4 Phantom II, the F-15 Eagle, and the F18 Hornet.

After immigrating to St. Louis, the family became involved with the American Aid Society of Saint Louis (later becoming the German Cultural Society of St. Louis). In 1951, his grandfather began a Jugendgruppe (youth group) for the Society, and Mike became involved from the beginning. In 1958, Mike married his childhood friend Betty Holzinger.  Betty’s mother was from the same village as Mike’s family, and upon hearing of their arrival in St. Louis in 1946, went almost immediately to visit them. Mike and Betty had 3 children: Michael, Steven and Susan. Mike and Betty were also blessed with 8 grandchildren: Joey, Michael, Alex, Nick, Amy, Thomas, Daniel, and Tony, and then 2 great-grand-children, Matthew and Andrew.

Mike had a very active role in preserving his German cultural roots.  In his early years, he participated the Schwaben Singing Society, the Deutschmeister Brass Band, the DKV Trachtengruppe, and the co-leader of the Kindertanzgruppe. He then led the Jugendgruppe from 1982-1991, highlighted with a trip to Germany & Austria in 1990. Other roles included, DKV executive committee (34 years), hall rental (8 years), acquisition committee for purchasing the DKV property at 3652 South Jefferson, and Hall Maintenance Group. He was president of the Deutscher Schulverein (German Language School) from 1974-1984, on the board of the Saint Louis Strassenfest from 1984-1990, and President of the Saint Louis Strassenfest from 1991-2004. Mike was integral in bringing bands from Europe to the Strassenfest to help preserve the culture.  Through his work with the Strassenfest, he also directed a donation to the German Cultural Society to help build a soccer field at the Kulterverien’s Donau Park. In addition, funds were donated to the Missouri Botanical Garden to establish the Strassenfest German Garden in 2000. He also served as the President of the Donauschwäbische Stiftung from 1997-2007 and as Honorary President from 2007 to 2025. He was also a member of the German-American Heritage Society, German-American Committee, the Stuttgart Sister Cities, and the Landsmannschaft der Banater Schwaben, and a member of the German Cultural Society (DKV) of St. Louis for over 75 years. In recognition of his life long efforts to preserve and foster the German culture, he received the Federal Republic of Germany’s Friendship Award in 2004 and the National Donauschwaben Landesverband USA Kulturepreis in 2024.

In lieu of flowers, contributions made to the German Cultural Society of St. Louis are greatly appreciated.

SERVICES: Funeral from KUTIS AFFTON CHAPEL (10151 Gravois Rd., 63123) on Friday, May 30, 9:45 AM to Seven Holy Founders (6737 S. Rock Hill Rd., 63123) for 10:00 AM Mass. Interment at Sunset Memorial Park. Visitation on Thursday, May 29, from 3:00 – 8:00 PM.