John Dale Wenzel, 90

John Dale Wenzel of Hayden Lake, age 90 passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 8, 2022, at the Kootenai Hospital due to unforeseen complications.

John was born Aug. 16, 1931, in Boone, Iowa. His parents were John R. Wenzel and Josephine Wenzel of Boone, Iowa. He had two sisters Joan Barnes of Boone, Iowa and Joyce Myers of Prior Lake, Minn. He graduated from Boone High school in 1949 and attended college for a year. In his younger years he owned a gasoline station in Boone. I think he enjoyed Boone but was yearning for more adventure and more opportunities, so he decided to move to California.

He worked for Aerojet as a metallurgist for a few years before meeting his love and sweetheart, Rosa Arauz. He met her at a dance and to his amazement she did want to dance with him. He married her 12-31-60 and bought a house in La Mirada and had two baby girls Theresa and Becky and a German Shepherd named Rover. When Becky was only 3 months old the family longed and desired a small town again and found a small unknown paradise called Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, and moved there in 1968. Dad was looking for ways to make a living and soon bought a cozy and quaint motel called the Q-Motel, Q for quiet. It was located on 417 Indiana street. It was a rewarding job, but work was 7 days a week all hours, so another venture was born.

Dad got a real-estate license and sold real-estate in CDA and Hayden for Century 21. More opportunities came along later, and Mr. Wenzel became a custom contractor of homes and duplexes. The things he enjoyed doing were boating, fishing, gardening, reading, baking apple pies and zucchini bread, studying Spanish and working puzzles.

John and Rosa and the family were members of CDA Bible Church for many years. We started going when the church was smaller and at the first location. He taught Sunday school and Mom worked in the nursery. He also attended in his later years Hayden Bible Church. John and Rosa became Gideons and delivered bibles in the local schools. He read the Holy Bible cover to cover twice and loved reading the book of Revelations and learning about the END TIMES. He was a faithful, kind, and humble Christian. He had a heart of gold and would do anything for you. He took care of his wife for 15 years after a stroke that took her ability to speak.

Preceded in death an infant son, a sister named Joan, a wife named Rosa and a son-in-law Cpt. Jon C. Fox. John leaves behind two daughters and sons-in-laws Becky and Stuart Wright of Hayden and Theresa and Rick Lambert of Yakima, Wash. A sister, Joyce Myers of Prior Lake, Minn., 10 nieces and nephews Linda Allen, Donnie Myers, Jeff Myers, Diane Myers, Frances Light, Irene Baltzell, Charlie Bonilla, Cindy Bonilla, Jennifer Borst, Kevin Barnes, 5 grandchildren Chris Fox, David Fox, Dr. Michael Fox, Melonie Wright, Ginger Wright and a great-grandchild named Kira Fox.

You are invited to the service at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the English Funeral Home, 1133 N Fourth St, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.