Wendlen J. Schmaltz, 79 of Springfield

Mass will be held 11:00 am Saturday, October 17, 2009 at St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Springfield. Burial will be held 11: 00 am Monday, October 19, 2009 at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in rural Spooner, WI. Visitation will be Friday from 12 noon to 5:30 pm at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Springfield, followed by a 7:30 pm Rosary/Wake at the Church.

Wendlen John Schmaltz, son of Joseph and Dorothy (Wolf) Schmaltz, was born February 15, 1930, in Rugby, ND. He died Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, SD. Wendlen attained the age of 79 years, seven months and 29 days.

Wendlen attended grade school at Rugby and Esmond, ND and graduated from Assumption Abbey in Richardson, ND in 1948. He attended college at Stout State University in Menomonie, WI, graduating in May of 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Arts. Wendlen earned his Masters Degree in 1957 in Vocational Education.

Wendlen served as a helicopter mechanic in the Korean Conflict from 1951 to 1953. He was stationed near Seoul, Korea in the US Army.

Wendlen was an assistant professor at Southern State Teacher's College, Southern State College and the University of South Dakota, Springfield from 1955 to 1984. He left the college with its closing, having taught for 29 years. Wendlen then taught four years at Flandreau Indian School. He retired from teaching in the fall of 1989.

Wendlen was a member of St. Vincent's Catholic Church, Dwight Wood American Legion Post 132 in Springfield, liefetime member of the VFW Post 7319 in Wagner, and SDEA.

Wendlen married Colleen Ellis on August 29, 1955 in Menomonie, WI. Four children were blessed to their union. Wendlen will be remembered by his family for his deep love for his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will also be remembered for his love of working with numbers and figures.

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife, Colleen of Springfield; his children: Cynthia and husband Leodis Green of Springfield, Robert and wife Rene'e of Lincoln, NE, Dennis of Mission, and Daniel and wife Nadine of Rice Lake, WI; 11 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; two sisters: Katherine (George) Olson and Alice (Terry) Trigg, all of San Jose, CA; a brother, Richard (Dorothy) of Dubuque, IA; one aunt; and many cousins and friends.

Wendlen was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; 10 aunts and 11 uncles; daughter-in-law, Jackie Schmaltz; and great grandson, Dallas Boucher III.