Laura M. Wendorff

Obituary

Laura Martha Wendorff was born on January 25, 1922, at home in Cedar Mills Township, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Emil and Augusta (Kohn) Hoff. Laura was baptized as an infant on February 19, 1922, at home by Reverend G. Fisher, and confirmed in her faith as a youth on July 12, 1936, by Reverend Carl Plocher at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Litchfield, Minnesota. Laura received her education in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and was a graduate with the Hutchinson High School class of 1940.

On November 26, 1942, Laura was united in marriage to Donald Wendorff by Reverend W. G. Voight at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Acoma Township, Minnesota. This marriage was blessed with three children, LaVonne, Donna Mae and Dale. After Donald returned from military service in World War II, in December of 1945, they lived with his brother, Everett Wendorff, on a farm, and later moved to Hutchinson in June of 1947. They shared 73 years of marriage before the passing of Donald on August 4, 2016.

After graduation, Laura worked various jobs in Hutchinson. She worked as a clerk and bookkeeper at J.C. Penney and as a clerk at Corson’s Clothing Store. Laura was the first office woman for Hutchinson Technology when it had its beginning in the Wendorff chicken coop in 1965. She retired in 1975. Laura and Donald enjoyed traveling after retirement. They wintered in Florida, Texas, and Arizona where they lived in Sierra Leone Mobile Court in Apache Junction for 10 years. She joined Peace Lutheran Church in 1947, and was an active member. Laura taught Sunday school for 18 years and helped at Vacation Bible School. She was also a member of Dorcas and Ladies Aid and worked at many funerals. Laura was an active member of the Hutchinson Hospital Auxiliary from 1977 to 2005, and a former member of VFW Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary.

Laura enjoyed bowling, knitting, crocheting, lots of sewing and playing cards. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren and friends.

Laura moved to Ecumen Pines in February of 2015, and after many surgeries spent 5 months in Glencoe Regional Health Care, before moving back to Ecumen Pines in April of 2018.

Laura passed away on Thursday, February 3, 2022, at Hutchinson Health in Hutchinson, Minnesota, at the age of 100 years.

Blessed be her memory.

Laura is survived by her:
Son, Dale Wendorff and his wife, Betty of Hudson, WI;
Grandchildren, Dr. Ronnell Hansen of Eagan, MN, Bobbi Jo Reese and her husband, Alex of Arlington, TX, Laura Jean Lemke and her husband, Kyle of Hudson, WI, Carl Wendorff of Ashburn, VA;
Great-grandchildren, Logan, Aya, and Astrid Hansen;
Many other relatives and friends.

Laura is preceded in death by her Parents, Emil and Augusta Swanson; Step-father, Oscar Swanson; Husband, Donald Wendorff; Daughters, Donna Mae Wendorff in infancy and LaVonne (Allen) Hansen; Sister, Vera (Lindeman) Ferencik and her husbands, Harry Lindeman and Andy Ferencik; Brothers, Raymond (Delores) Hoff, David (Betty) Hoff.