William Wallace Wenzel, born February 6, 1923 at Huron, South Dakota, the son of Harry F. Wenzel and Bertha E. (Dahl) Wenzel, died July 25, 2011 at 6:35 PM. He grew up in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin and graduated from Menomonee Falls High School in 1941. He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in September 1941. On December 7, 1942 he enlisted in the Army Medical Corps. He received his medical training at Lawson General Hospital in Atlanta and served as a surgical medical technician with the 94th Infantry Division. On November 5, 1943 he was appointed to the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet. In April of 1944 he was reassigned to the 75th Infantry Division and served as a Medical/Surgical Technician with the 290th Infantry Battalion during the Rhineland Campaign and the Battle of the Bulge. In October 1944 he was sent to Europe and was in combat from December 1944 - January 1945 until wounded. Wounded in action, he received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals. He was then reassigned to the Judge Adjutant General's staff in Berlin where he served until honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant on February 26, 1946. In 1946 he enlisted in the Army National Guard and served until 1948. He received an honorable discharge from the 126th Army Air Corps Fighter Squadron based at Truax Field. He received a commission as a Major in the US Air Force Auxiliary and served as Deputy Commander, Executive Officer and Aerospace Education Officer in the Colsac Civil Air Patrol Squadron 196. He was a life member of Kuoni-Reuter American Legion Post and Lachmund-Cramer VFW Post in Sauk Prairie. He took part in the Badger Honor Flight to Washington D.C. last October. He graduated with a BS Degree in Education in 1950, received an MS degree in 1954 in School Administration and PhD in Education from University of WI in 1974. He served the State of Wisconsin for 35 years as teacher, principal, school district administrator, federal project director at the WI Department of Public Instruction and Professor and Chairman of Special Education at UW Oshkosh until his retirement in 1986.
He belonged to several professional organizations - The National Teacher's Association, The Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, The Association of Teacher Educators and The Retired Educators Association. He was a member of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church. He also served in a number of church leadership positions in various congregations throughout his life. Music was an important part of his life. He played trumpet in his High School Band and in the American Legion Band in Menomonee Falls. As a high school sophomore he and some of his buddies formed the Top Hats Orchestra playing local dance halls, resort and clubs on the weekends. In the 1970's he became a charter member of the Lost Century Jazz Band, a dixieland group that entertained for a number of years in the Madison area. Fluent in the German language he sang German Christmas carols, hymns and folk songs with a small choral group. He was a talented artist who produced and sold water color paintings and other artworks. He was also an accomplished writer. He wrote many articles published in the press over the years and wrote poetry to entertain his friends. He was the author of several books - Confessions of a Good Boy, Hunting& Fishing and Other Tall Tales and A Time to Remember; A Combat Medic Looks Back. He enjoyed golfing, hunting, trapping and fishing and playing cards. He and his wife Verna owned a summer home on a lake in northern Wisconsin and enjoyed many happy years in the north country. After retirement, Bill and Verna built a home in Bonita Springs, FL and returned to PDS shortly after their granddaughter Lexy was born. He married Verna L. (Jensen) on October 6, 1944. They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in 2010. He was preceded in death by his parents Harry F. and Bertha E. Wenzel; a brother, Harry B. Wenzel; and two sisters-in-law, Betty and Marjorie.


He is survived by his wife, Verna; two sons, William F. (Bev) and Pete W. (Charlotte) Wenzel; two granddaughters, Alexandra A. (friend Brian Nelson) and Sonja J. Wenzel; three brothers, Richard B. (Betty) Wenzel, Thomas F. Wenzel and Charles E. Wenzel; sister-in-law, Billie Diane Wenzel; cousin, Phyllis Bruhn; special sister-in-law, Betty (Dale) Page; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.


A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 29, 2011 at 11:00am at St. John Lutheran Church, 100 Oak St. Prairie du Sac. Burial will follow in the Prairie du Sac Cemetery. Friends may call on Thursday, July 28 from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the HOOVERSON FUNERAL HOME, Sauk City and one hour prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established.