Parkston – Janice “Jan” Lou Wenzel, 81, went to her heavenly home Thursday, October 9, 2025 at her home in Parkston.  Funeral service will be Monday, October 13 at 10:30 am at Faith Lutheran Church in Parkston.  Visitation will be Sunday, October 12 from 5 to 7 pm, with a 7:00 pm prayer service, at Faith Lutheran Church in Parkston.  Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Parkston.

Jan was born September 14, 1944 to Reinhold and Alice (Sorensen) Gerlach in Parkston, SD.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church of rural Dimock, SD.  She attended Parkston High School and graduated in 1962. After graduating from Nettleton Business School in Sioux Falls, SD, she began working at First National Bank in Sioux Falls.  She was united in marriage to Gerald "Gerry" Wenzel on April 18, 1964 at St. John Lutheran Church.  The couple lived in Huron, SD for a short time where Jan continued to work for First National Bank.  After moving to Delmont, SD, she worked for Delmont State Bank.  In 1988, they moved to Parkston, SD where they owned and operated Wenzel Insurance Agency. Jan was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, LWML, taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School and was an avid listener to Stonecroft Ministries.  She enjoyed sending and receiving greeting cards, loved family genealogy, was a “power” shopper and Brownie Scout Leader, and enjoyed attending concerts, plays and dinner theaters.  She also enjoyed traveling, attending classic car shows, and watching game shows and the Minnesota Twins.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Gerry of Parkston; 2 children: Mark Wenzel of Mitchell, SD and Kristi (Todd) Hoekstra of Sioux Falls; 2 grandchildren:  Alissa Hoekstra of Sioux Falls and Dalton (fiancée Christina) Hoekstra of Edina, MN; 2 sisters, Betty (Joe) Volz of Sioux Falls and Sandy (Rod) Phinney of Mitchell; a sister-in-law, Barb Peterson of Sioux Falls; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Chad; a brother, Dennis Gerlach; parents-in-law, Max and Evelyn Wenzel; and a niece, Jodi Gubbrud.

Memorials would be preferred in lieu of flowers.