Edward J. Wentz

Edward J. Wentz, 82 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, surrounded by his family, at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND. 

Mass of Christian Burial for Ed will be on Monday, February 17, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass.  Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 16^th at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.  Visitation on Monday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team-Army.  

Edward Joseph Wentz, one of 15 children of Nick and Catherine (Scherr) Wentz was born on July 8, 1937 at Rugby, North Dakota.  He was reared on the family farm at rural Minnewaukan and educated at the Minnewaukan Public School. At a young age, he began working on the family farm, doing all the chores and jobs that were necessary to raise a crop and help his parents to provide for the family. 

Edward joined the United States Army on September 7, 1961, serving in Korea and stateside at Oakland, California during the Korean Conflict.  Edward was honorably discharged from active duty on August 26, 1963 with the rank of Specialist 4. He continued in the Army Reserves until September 6, 1967.  Edward married Penny Johnson on May 29, 1965 and they were the proud parents of Wayne, Michael, Darren, Matt and Ashley. 

After his discharge, Ed went to work for Jacobson construction, building grain elevators. He worked there for several years before eventually moving to Maddock ND, where he went to work for Summers Manufacturing during its infancy as a company. Later, he went back to Jacobson construction and continued building grain elevators for the majority of his career. Ed also worked for Rugby Manufacturing in Rugby ND for a few years.  

Ed first and foremost worked hard to support his family and took the family along wherever his jobs would lead him.  During his time with Jacobsons and Vigen construction, Ed’s work took him all across the United States and even into Canada for a couple of years. Ed retired in 1999 and moved to Devils Lake to be closer to family.

Ed enjoyed going to the Casino and visiting with old friends and making new friends.  He never quit building grain elevators and had a talent for building them out of popsicle sticks after he retired.  He had a great interest in old coins and had accumulated quite a collection.  

Ed loved his country and his family and served them both the very best he could. 

Ed’s survivors include his children Michael (Joy) Wentz, Darren Wentz, Matt (Misti) Wentz and Ashley (James) Ackerman all of Devils Lake; 8 grandchildren Brendan Wentz: Rachelle, Michael and Tyler Wentz: Joseph Miller and Marc (Sandy) Wentz: Kayleigh Schwab, Aiden Ackerman and one soon to be born; 6 great grandchildren Kaysen, Parker, Jacob, Layla, Victoria and Cordelia; siblings Leona Borg, Benton City, Iowa, Dennis (Ruth) Wentz, Minnewaukan, ND, Gerald Wentz, Minot, ND, James Wentz, Joan Korb, Larry Wentz all of Devils Lake, Mary Ann (Nick) Hettwer, Calio, ND, Ralph (Jane) Wentz, Peter (Barb) Wentz and Leroy (Desiree) Wentz also all of Devils Lake; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Nick and Catherine, son Wayne, grandsons Timothy Wentz and Jacob Wentz, brothers Howard, Albert, Paul and Wendelin Wentz.  

Casket Bearers for Ed will be Ron Wentz, Brendan Wentz, Michael Wentz, Tyler Wentz, Joseph Miller and Marc Wentz.  Reading the Scriptures will be Joy Wentz and Lisa Skadsem and bringing up the Eucharistic Gifts will be Jim Skadsem, Mary Skadsem and Don Skadsem.