Loyce Wenzel, 89

Loyce Helen Wenzel, at the age of 89, went to heaven on Sunday, October 5, 2025. Loyce was born on October 19, 1935 to her parents Victor and Francis Gilreath. Loyce was raised in their family home on Company Street in White Pigeon with her brother Victor. She worked at a local store growing up and enjoyed going to the movie theater and nut shop. She graduated from White Pigeon High School and went on to graduate from The College of Commerce, a business school in South Bend, and was then employed at Harvey Paper Products as executive assistant. Loyce met the love of her life, Richard A. “Dick” Wenzel, when they were introduced by mutual friends. Soon after Dick returned from serving in the U.S. Army, Loyce and Dick were married on June 2, 1956, the first to be married in the newly built Holy Angels Catholic Church. They spent nearly 65 wonderful years together. They were inseparable and enjoyed life adventures together.

Loyce was the cornerstone to her husband and family. Always putting others before herself, she enjoyed planning and hosting friends and family gatherings. Loyce would welcome all who stopped by to chat like they were the most important person in the world. She was genuinely interested in your current endeavor and was quick to celebrate milestone achievements. Loyce was the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Accounting for the family business, Wenzel Roofing and Home Improvement and for a few rental properties they owned and managed. She also assisted with Sherman Township Clerk duties as Deputy Clerk. Often Loyce would welcome new residents of the township to the family home to register for voting. She would put on her township and Sturgis ambassador hat, welcoming them and sharing information about the community. Loyce also worked helping a friend in Shipshewana for a few summers after her boys were out of the home.

Loyce was also running the Wenzel household, planning and organizing family trips and events and shuttling her 4 boys to school, sports and various activities. Loyce made her active home fun and was always the optimist and quick with a joke. She found the bright side to everything and was creative in making things happen.

Loyce was actively involved in her community. She was a long-time member of the Ave Maria church group at Holy Angles Catholic Parish where she participated in many events to serve the parish community. She volunteered at the Sturgis Hospital and American Red Cross offering kind greetings to visitors and making sure they were comforted. Loyce enjoyed assisting with the Knights of Columbus dinners and dance events when Dick was a leader in the organization.

Loyce loved planning family trips and understood the value of a vacation to refresh and recharge. When the family was young, camping, fishing, mushroom hunting, annual trips to Florida and the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee were a normal get-a-way. Loyce and Dick traveled across the United States enjoying the west coast of California and visiting family in Arizona but favoring regular lengthy stays along the west coast of Florida, usually on the beach to enjoy awesome sunsets. They also traveled abroad several times, always meeting new friends. Family outings, grandchildren school and sports events, golfing, gardening, weekend get-a-ways to northern Michigan, Notre Dame football and basketball as well as Albion and Western Michigan University games were enjoyment for Loyce. She loved a fun tailgate that would bring family and friends together.

Loyce will be remembered for her positive and entrepreneurial spirit, tireless work ethic and always putting others first. She set an example of being an active member of her community helping others. With their family business, Loyce and Dick provided employment to others for over 40 years with each employee becoming like family. Loyce and Dick built their family home on Wait Road in Sturgis in 1956 which the family lived in for over 60 years. 25 years ago, Loyce and Dick began part time and then turning into full time the past few years, residence on Austin Lake in Portage, where they enjoyed relaxing and made home base for family events.

Music was always a big part of Loyce’s life. When younger, she sang with two of her dear friends in church services and other events. She was an accomplished organist and pianist, playing even recently over the past year during her 89-year birthday party. She would bring family together over the Christmas holiday to sing along while she played, always making it fun to sing along.

Loyce enjoyed a good grouper sandwich, key lime pie or secret recipe peanut butter brownies and a cold pilsner after a good day of adventure. Loyce has 4 sons, a daughter who passed at birth, 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren who she loves and cherishes.

Loyce is survived by her four sons: Dr. Michael and Debra Wenzel of Battle Creek, Timothy and Maureen Wenzel of Portage, Jeffery Wenzel, Jim Sherman of Sturgis and Andrew and Tamela Wenzel of Kalamazoo; 11 grandchildren: Dr. Sarah (Travis) Beuchler, Bethany (Dustin) Wilk, Meghan Wenzel, Samantha (Nathan) Schneck, Joseph Wenzel, Jessica Wenzel, Chase (Traci) Wenzel, Tyler Wenzel, Maggie (Zachary) Westlund, Evan Wenzel (Sadie Buday), and Eric Wenzel (Olivia Boblet); 15 great grandchildren: Katherine, Douglas, Baylee, Ireland, Brecken, Noah, Asher, Samuel, Jacob, Savannah, Callum, Quinn, Tanner, Nora, Bennett; her sister-in-law, Janise and several nieces and nephews.

Loyce’s dedicated husband Dick proceeded her in death as well as her parents, a daughter at birth (Baby Jane Helen), and her brother Victor.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025 at the Rosenberg Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 807 E. Chicago Rd., Sturgis, MI 49091. The Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be prayed at 7:00 P.M., Thursday, at the funeral home, immediately following the visitation.

The Funeral Mass celebrating the life of Loyce H. Wenzel will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 402 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091. The Rev. Father Paul Thuantho and The Rev. Father James Adams will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the Mass at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.

The Hackman Family Funeral Homes of Sturgis is entrusted with the arrangements.

The family is so grateful to her kind and loving caregivers Donna, Dennette, Lisa, Paula, and all of the staff at Thurston Woods in Sturgis.

The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donations in Mrs. Wenzel’s memory consider Thurston Woods, 307 North Franks Street, Sturgis, MI 49091, Centraca Hospice of S.W. Michigan, 7100 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI, 49009 or Holy Angels Catholic Church, 402 South Nottawa Street, Sturgis, MI 49091

(she was also a dog lover).

The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where we encourage relatives and friends to share memories and leave condolences for the family.