Erwin James Wendt

Erwin James Wendt, 88, of Leesburg, passed away Friday, January 5, 2018. Born in Constableville, NY to parents Walter and Mildred (Higby) Wendt on January 15, 1929, Erwin attended Constableville Central School and graduated from Turin Union School in 1946. He was married to Phyllis Ann Krokowski on November 28, 1947 at the Turin Methodist Church by Rev. Joseph B. Elkins. He lived on a farm on West Road and he moved in 1950 to work at the Neodak Lodge in Inlet, NY. In the fall of 1950, he went to work for his Aunt: Dorothy Wendt in Constableville. On April 1st, 1957, he went to work for Victory Markets in Boonville and then to Great American for 37 1/2 years, retiring on December 1, 1994. In his career, he was the produce manager, then manager of Victory Markets for 20 years in Boonville, Sherril, and Lyons Falls. Afterwards, he went back to Boonville as produce manager again and was head cashier for about 17 1/2 years with Great American Markets when he retired. Later, he went on social security disability. He and Phyllis bought a house in Florida and moved there in 1995. Phyllis went to be with the Lord in 1997. On February 14, 1998, Erwin and Rev. Ruth Elaine Peronne were married. Erwin is survived by his wife, Rev. Ruth Wendt of Leesburg, FL; sons, David Wendt and Paul Wendt; daughters-in-law, Susan Carpenter Wendt LeRoy, Nancy Beadore Wendt; half-brother, Fred Higby of Black River, NY; sister, Margaret (Joseph) Levesque of Lowville, NY; sister-in-law, Sandra Bigness and her companion, Frank Kozacka of The Villages, FL; 4 grandchildren, Andy, Michael, Kim and Christine; 3 great-grandchildren, Jacob Lucas Wendt, Dylan Michael Wendt, and Jaxtyn Allen Wyman. He is predeceased by brother, Harold Wendt; great granddaughter, Arrianna Grace Tengel; daughter-in-law, Patricia Schleicher Wendt. Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Eustis, on Monday, January 15, 2018 at 11:00 AM. The family will receive friends at the Harden/Pauli Funeral Home on Sunday, January 14, 2018 from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM. Memorial donations may be made to Live Again Ministries @ First United Methodist Church, 600 South Grove Street, Eustis, FL 32726. Online Guestbook available at www.hardenpauli.com Arrangements by Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis.