Obituary of Chad Wenzel

Parkston – Chad Wenzel, 48, went to his heavenly home Tuesday, March 5 at Avera St. Benedict Hospital in Parkston. Funeral service will be Monday, March 11 at 10:30 am at Faith Lutheran Church in Parkston. Visitation will be Sunday, March 10 from 5 to 7 pm with a 7:00 pm prayer service at Faith Lutheran Church in Parkston.

Chad Gerald Wenzel was born December 16, 1970 to Gerry and Jan (Gerlach) Wenzel in Yankton, SD. He was baptized on January 10, 1971 and confirmed on March 31, 1985 at Zion Lutheran Church in Delmont, SD. He attended Delmont High School until his family moved to Parkston, SD where he attended Parkston High School, graduating in 1989. While in high school, Chad was an active participant in basketball, football and track. He also loved playing baseball and was a frequent pitcher. He attended Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD where he also played baseball for a year and worked at Elmwood Golf Course. He graduated from Augustana in 1993 with a degree in business administration. He moved back to Parkston in 1994 and worked with his Dad at Wenzel Insurance Agency. Chad was an avid collector of baseball cards all his life and was a strong follower of sports, especially the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. He enjoyed playing golf, was a music lover, attended many live concerts around the country, was quick witted and had a one liner for every occasion.

Grateful for having shared his life are his parents, Gerry and Jan Wenzel of Parkston; 2 siblings, Mark Wenzel of Mitchell, SD and Kristi (Todd) Hoekstra of Sioux Falls; grandmother, Evelyn Wenzel of Parkston; a niece, Alissa Hoekstra of Sioux Falls; and a nephew, Dalton Hoekstra of Omaha, NE.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Max Wenzel and Reinhold and Alice Gerlach.

Memorial would be preferred in lieu of flowers.