- Date Of Birth: February 5, 1949
- Date Of Death: February 12, 2020
- State: Michigan
Surrounded by his wife and daughters, Gary G. Wendt passed away peacefully on February 12, 2020 at the age of 71. He was born on February 5, 1949 in Midland to the late Francis Leo and Ruth Lucille (McDonald) Wendt. He graduated from Midland High School in 1968 and soon after married his high school sweetheart Nancy Kay (Sandow) on August 22, 1970. They would have been celebrating 50 years of marriage this year.
Gary worked for the City of Midland Parks and Recreation department where you’d most often find him driving the Zamboni at the Midland Civic Arena or managing the softball diamonds at Emerson Park. Through his time with the City he met many dear friends and Midland residents, making it nearly impossible to walk into any store without seeing a friendly face or striking up a conversation. He spent 33 years with the City before retiring in 2004.
Gary will be remembered as someone who valued hard work, possessing a work ethic that was admired by many. He could build anything to the highest quality with his own two hands and had a quick wit and sarcasm that always had people laughing. Gary was not only a great storyteller, but more often than not he was at the heart of the best and most memorable stories.
Gary had a passion for recreational softball, playing for nearly 20 years wearing #16 with his mitt “the snagger” in hand, later shifting his focus to coaching and throwing practice pitches to his daughters. He loved working out in his yard and many neighbors can attest to Gary having some of the plushest grass and brightest blooming flowers on the block. He was also passionate about the game of golf and put in countless hours on the golf course perfecting his swing and warming up for the “PGA Tour.”
His greatest passion though, above all else, was his family. He loved nothing more than spending time with his kids, whether it was smothering his girls with hugs and kisses, building snow sled hills in the backyard, working on school projects or making his famous pizza or chocolate malts. Even as they grew to adults, no day would pass that he wouldn’t proudly ask his girls “how many stars they got” for their hard work and tell them he loved them. He shared the same love for his grandkids and could play with and make them laugh for hours and hours. To the little ones he was known as “their best friend” and “the best grandpa ever.”
Gary will be missed by so many who loved him, especially his wife Nancy, his three daughters and sons-in-law, Britney Hyde (JP Rodrigues) of Midland, Stephanie (Jose) Castillo of Alma, and Lindsay Wendt (Mat Domanski) of Chicago; four grandchildren, Jacob Hyde, Luc Rodrigues, Sofia and Isabel Castillo; sisters Kathy Wendt of Midland and Nina (Tom McCormick) of East Tawas; brothers-in-law Mike (Kate) Sandow of St. Louis, MI and Denny (Susan) Sandow of Kentucky; sisters-in-law Sherry Matthys of Midland and Cathy (Terry) Torres of San Diego; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and life long friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Leo Wendt, parents-in-law Ralph and Dorothy Sandow, brother Richard “Dick” Wendt, and brothers-in-law Gary Sandow and Russ Matthys.
