Raymond J. Wenzel

Raymond Joseph Wenzel “Ray”, age 83, passed away the eve of Easter Sunday, March 30, 2024.  Ray was born on August 5, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois.

Ray was a graduate of Reavis High School in Burbank, Illinois where he met his beloved Mary E. O’Dea;  they were married in Chicago on February 3, 1961.  Ray served in the Air Force National Guard from 1959 through 1965, preparing him for his career in telecommunications, initially as a technician with Illinois Bell.  Following the birth of their two children, Ray moved the family to El Monte, California, and he worked for Pacific Bell in Los Angeles for the next 10 years.  While in the Los Angeles area, Ray was a member of the Knights of Columbus.  Upon his return to the Chicago area in 1979, Ray worked as an engineer for AT&T until his retirement.

Ray was incredibly patient, kind and compassionate.  He showed us the real meaning of love, as he cared for Mary over the last 10 years since the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.  He was blessed with the gifts of creativity and inventiveness, and he had a love for electronics, astronomy, art and music, which were manifested in his electronic inventions, handmade telescopes, beautiful landscape paintings and piano renditions he would spontaneously play by ear without formal training.

Ray was preceded in death by the late Isadore “Easy” and Edna (Sander) Wenzel, and brother Roy Wenzel.

Ray is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Wenzel (O’Dea), son Thomas Wenzel and daughter-in-law Laurie Wenzel (Wiersma), and daughter Kathleen Olson (Wenzel); sister, Carol Keehn (Wenzel); his four grandchildren, Jordan Wenzel, Taylor Wenzel (Mark Carioscio), Lauren Olson, Eric Wenzel; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to EWTN Global Catholic Network (https://www.ewtn.com), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/give).

Visitation Saturday, April 6th, 3-8pm with a 6:30pm prayer service by Pastor Charles Johnson of the Christ Lutheran Church. Private interment Monday, at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery.