Wendy Sue Wamser

In Celebration of Wendy’s Life-

Wendy Wamser’s spirit left its earthly home while in the arms of loving friends on May 31, 2019. She succumbed in the early morning hours after a six month cancer illness. Throughout that journey she remained optimistic and her courage and strength were admirable. She was continually surrounded by love and support.

Wend Sue Wamser was born on March 14, 1949 in Coldwater, MI. She had recently celebrated her 70th birthday. She graduated from Muskegon Catholic High School in Muskegon, MI. She began living on Belding Road at Bostwick Lake in Rockford, MI in the 1960’s with her father, Don Wamser, and her beloved step-mother and friend Betty. She was always surrounded by dogs and cats and farm animals there. Plus she grew up with her half-brothers Stuart “Stu”, Randy, and Kelly Wamser.

She loved life and celebrated it in all ways with her girlfriends, Pam (Place) Whiting, Jakki (Denbraber) Knutson, and Jane (Pugh) Darden during the summer of 1965. They swam together in Bostwick Lake next to “The Pines”, Jakki’s parents’ business, and then got food and pop at the Dog ‘n Suds Drive-In. The also enjoyed slumber parties in the hayloft of Wendy’s barn, and danced and listened to the best of rock ’n roll, blues and folk music via records the collected and on the radio and tv.

Wendy achieved working 40+ years as an order clerk in the dietary department of Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. She happily enjoyed her retirement from there these 5 years or so. She was an active animal advocate and volunteered at “Carol’s Ferals”, and was a dedicated vegan, eating only plant-based foods and no dairy, and with her vegan friends she enjoyed potlucks, kayaking, and vegan and animal events. Other joys were outdoor summer music concerts, antiquing and yard sales, zentangle fine-ink art classes, low impact yoga, cooking vegan dishes and baking bread, and she volunteered as treasurer for the Living Truth Fellowship, Inc.

Wendy adored her home, filled with things she loved, and surrounded by her animal family, beloved dog, Destiny, cats – Setia, Feisty and Nix, plus 5 birds. She was very independent and private and loved working in her flower gardens and yard amongst the chirping of birds. She loved the Earth and all its creatures.

She leaves behind her step-mother, Betty Wamser, half-brother, Stu Wamser (Marthene), Stu’s step-daughter, Melinda, nephews and nieces, her daughter, Lesly (John), and many loving friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Don Wamser, Mother, Una May “Mickey” Panozzo, step-father, Gene Panozzo, and half-brother, Randy Wamser.

Wendy didn’t want a memorial and cremation arrangements were made at Memorial Alternatives on Fuller Ave, in Grand Rapids, MI. A small gathering to celebrate Wendy and share memories will be held in the near future, with notification beforehand.

The world is empty without her joyful and loving presence, yet her love lives on in our hearts and memories and our love and memories live on in her. That is what will sustain everyone who loves her.

While her friends will always miss her, we know she has moved on to her next adventure.

- Written on behalf of her family and friends by Jane (Pugh) Darden.

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