Richard John "Dick" Wenzel was born in Superior, WI and raised in Thomson Township, Esko MN on February 18, 1947, to parents John Conrad Wenzel and Evelyn Victoria Tan. This is where, as his sons describe it "they wear their cold weather like a badge of courage". As Dick recalled, the daily high for the month of January the year he left home was 10 below zero. Childhood memories included attending midnight Christmas Eve worship and Sunrise worship with his grandfather at the Augustana Lutheran Church, where the services were in Finnish, and then going with his parents and sisters to a second service in English at St. Matthews Lutheran. His job, in addition to his normal chores, was to clear snow off the driveway and car before they could leave. He helped his grandmother prepare the seedlings that would become the flower baskets in May for Memorial Day. Living in such a cold climate required fortitude, and that uniquely Finnish word, "sisu", the ability to persevere, to do what was needed despite circumstances that would appear to be insurmountable. Dick joined the Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He regularly assisted his father who cooked for the annual Lutheran General Assembly and other events. Shortly after high school, an "invitation from the President of the United States" began his journey to see the world. He joined the Army, trained at Fort Campbell Kentucky, and was assigned to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam where he distinguished himself as a soldier, quickly earning an E-6 grade. Declining the offer to reenlist, he used his early separation to get his B.A. degree at Austin Peay University. In his own words, his plan: "If I made an A in a class at mid-term, I went and sold cars the rest of term. If I made a D, I studied to make an A on the final exam." He excelled in sales, and between 1976 and 1979 was named top salesperson in the nation for Ford, Chevrolet and Buick; one year for two companies in the same year. But he also learned the hard lessons of failure. After losing everything when the auto industry hit hard times, he restored an old home in Allensville, KY, and then returned to sales with Lawson Products, supplying hardware for the military at Fort Campbell, KY. He was persuaded to move into management at Lawson to share his philosophy of sales success. Two simple concepts stood out: "You cant sell to your enemies, they wont deal with you, but you can help your friends and sell to them, so make friends." And the other was part of his philosophy of life, thoughtful curiosity. Ask "What are you trying to do here? Only with that answer can you understand and offer something that can make their job easier." Dick gave to those he served, quietly organizing an annual deer hunt on his land and nearby farms/woods. He delighted to host those reunions and the serve men who served this country with a relaxing and fun week, and for 25 years those hunts were an event people looked forward to attending. His cooking benefited many, including his own dogs. One colleague said, "I hope when I die, I come back as one of Dick Wenzels dogs, because he feeds them so well." Dick Wenzel was proud of his Finnish heritage and felt blessed with a lifetime of friendships. A favorite poem and a prayer exemplify his own hope. The first was a guide for his heart on the road of life. A Fathers Advice to His Son ~ by Rudyard Kipling "If you can walk with the crowd and keep your virtue, or walk with Kings nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run Yours is the earth and everything thats in it, Andwhich is moreyoull be a man my son." The second is a prayer which he hung in a place of honor alongside some commemorative military gifts in his church office. Dear Lord, in the battle that goes on through life, I ask but a field that is fair, A chance that is equal with all in the strife, A courage to strive and to dare; And if I should win, let it be by the code, With my faith and my honor held high; And if I should lose, let me stand by the road And cheer as winners go by. ~ Knute Rockne~ Memorial Service First Presbyterian Church of Dade City Saturday, April 24, 2021 11:00 AM 37412 Church Ave. Dade City, FL 33525