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Donald “Don” R. Wenzel

October 11, 1927 - May 20, 2026
Visitation
Immanuel Lutheran Church
13445 West Hampton Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
Sunday 5/31, 1:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Service
Immanuel Lutheran Church
13445 West Hampton Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
Sunday 5/31, 3:00 pm
Memorial

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in memory of Donald Wenzel be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Donald R Wenzel was born on October 11, 1927, in Sullivan, Wisconsin to Roy (Rex) and Norma Wenzel. He passed away on May 20, 2026, in Brookfield Wisconsin.

Don is preceded in death by his loving wife, Lila Wenzel. Don is survived by three sons: Steve (Wendy) Wenzel of Adams, WI, Jeff (Karen) Wenzel of Littleton, CO and John (Cindy) Wenzel of Marinette, WI, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild, sister Suzanne (Wenzel) Vogel and nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his parents Roy and Norma Wenzel, brothers Lloyd (Katherine) Wenzel and Glenn (Helen) Wenzel, brothers in law Jay (Suzanne) Vogel, Donald (Mary) Draginis, Dennis (Lilas) Draginis.

Don grew up on the family farm in Sullivan, Wisconsin. His mother died in 1938, when he was 10 years old and the oldest child. He later said, “Those were difficult times.” He worked on the farm with his father and brothers until enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1951.

Don met Lila in 1948, and they married in 1951 before he entered military service. He completed basic training at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, with the 5th Armored Division, 15th Armored Infantry Battalion. He then attended Counter Intelligence school and was assigned to the Milwaukee CIC office. After his honorable discharge in 1953, the couple settled in Milwaukee. In 1960, they built a new home and moved to Brookfield, Wisconsin, where they raised their three sons: Steven, born in 1953; Jeffrey, born in 1956; and John, born in 1959. Don and Lila lived in their Brookfield home for 65 years.

Don started his career as a State Farm Insurance agent in 1954. He established a successful insurance agency in Milwaukee over 42 years, retiring in 1995. Don had a powerful sense of civic duty and served as an elected City of Brookfield Alderman for 14 years. He and his wife Lila supported charitable causes throughout their lives.

Don and Lila joined Immanuel Lutheran Church shortly after moving to Brookfield in 1960. They were the second longest married couple in their church celebrating 74 years together. Don was active in the church serving as a Church Elder and other volunteer positions. He was a long time member of the Thursday morning Bible Study Group. They were dedicated supporters of the church and served terms as the Immanuel Lutheran Foundation President.

As a family, they were longtime members of the Watertown Outboarders Boat Club. They spent most weekends boating the Rock River and picnicking on the boat club grounds. Don was a frequent volunteer with the club helping develop the facilities and expand membership. Don and Lila also enjoyed extended boat trips on the Mississippi River and to Florida.

As lifelong Green Bay Packers fan Don became a season ticket holder in 1959. In Sullivan he loved playing baseball, and later in life he often listened to Milwaukee Brewers games on the radio. Don enjoyed playing sports throughout his life, including bowling and golf. He first started skiing while living on the family farm with his brother Glenn, hiking up nearby hills before ski lifts were available. At age 60, he began skiing in the Colorado mountains and continued taking regular ski trips into his eighties.

Don was also an avid hunter. Over the years, he hunted whitetail deer and game birds in Wisconsin. He made annual trips to Wyoming to hunt elk, mule deer, and antelope. He continued hunting into his mid-nineties. He enjoyed fishing with his sons and brother-in-law Donald Draginis.

Don and Lila loved the holiday season decorating the home on holidays. Outdoor Christmas lights were a particular specialty. Hosting Christmas gatherings with family and friends was the highlight of the year.

Don and Lila Wenzel will be deeply missed by their family. In his final years, Don often said he had lived a good life and was grateful for it.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM – 2:45 PM  on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 13445 Hampton Road, Brookfield, Wisconsin 53005. Service at 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in memory of Donald Wenzel be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church.

 

 

 

Smiling middle-aged man in a black suit and red patterned tie, portrait studio backdrop.
Young child in a sailor outfit sits on a wooden fence, smiling while offering a striped ball to the camera.
Baby sits on an old tractor steering wheel, supported by an adult's hand, with a house and trees in the background.
Smiling man in a blue shirt and red cap stands beside a saddled brown horse with gear in a forested area.
Three skiers posing together on a snowy mountainside with a chairlift in the background.
Boat at night wrapped in pink string lights forming a mermaid figure, with two passengers onboard.
Graduate wearing a white gown hugs an older man in a blue jacket at a crowded outdoor graduation event.
Four men posing with golf clubs on a green golf course, wearing hats and casual attire.
Stilt-walker in a cowboy outfit with a huge orange hat raises his arms as a man with a microphone talks to him in a city plaza with glass buildings in the background.
Smiling man in a white T-shirt sits on a cruise ship deck, with a blue sky and lifeboats visible above him.
Man in a striped polo shirt, hat, and sunglasses stands beside a large fish hanging from a lifting mechanism outdoors.
A smiling elderly couple with a granddaughter standing behind them in a cozy living room by a fireplace.
Older man sits in a white chair on a wooden porch, cradling two young children on his lap.
Smiling elderly couple in formal attire at a dinner table with lobster and wine glasses in front.
Smiling man in a blue striped polo at a birthday party, cutting a cake labeled with the State Farm Insurance logo.
Smiling couple at a festive event: man in a top hat and bow tie, woman in a pink, ruffled dress with a pink feather headpiece, seated at a checkered tablecloth.
Man and woman on a sailboat steering near the cockpit, open water with a distant city skyline.
People on a sunny beach assist a parasail rider as a colorful parachute lifts into the sky over the water.
A large group of men in baseball caps and casual sportswear posing for a team photo on a grassy field behind a chain-link fence.
Smiling businessman in a suit hands a document to another person across a desk.
Man in a suit sits at a cluttered office desk, signing papers.
Six adults gathered at a bar smiling, with drinks and snacks on the counter in a cozy, retro setting.
Three older men sit at a bar chatting and eating, with drinks on the counter; the man on the left bites into a snack, the middle man smiles, and the right man in a white shirt leans on the bar.
Man wearing a striped jacket riding a brown horse in a grassy field with trees and distant tents/structures in the background.
Two hunters stand in a dry field holding several grouse after a hunting trip in bright sunlight.
Group of people in cowboy hats and plaid shirts posing in front of a rack of animal hides outdoors in a wooded area.
Man in red jacket and orange cap kneels in a field of tall dry grass, posing with a dark animal carcass at his feet during a hunt.
Two men posing outdoors with a large elk antlered head, one wearing a fur coat and red hat, the other in a brown jacket, in a grassy field at edge of trees.
Three friends at a Hawaiian-themed party wearing leis and a flower in the hair, smiling at the camera.
Man in a plaid shirt sits at a rustic cabin table, holding a beer can with shelves of mugs and pantry items behind.
Portrait of a young man in a suit next to a text block about Donald Wenzel—blond, quiet at first, then popular, active in football and baseball.
Smiling senior couple in formal attire posing against a blue studio backdrop.
Vintage photo of a bride in a white gown dancing with a man in a suit in a large indoor hall, giving a celebratory wedding vibe.
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Vintage wedding photo: bride in white gown with veil holding a bouquet, standing next to a groom in a light suit with a black bow tie.
Black-and-white photo of a smiling couple in the backseat of a vintage car, dressed in 1950s attire; woman on left, man on right.
Two skiers pose together in the snow, wearing colorful jackets and goggles, holding ski poles on a sunny slope.
Two people smiling for a photo on a railing with a snowy alpine mountain backdrop behind them.
Two people posing outdoors with a snow-capped mountain range in the background; man wearing dark jacket and sunglasses, woman in a white jacket and hat.
Group of people at a dining table in a home kitchen, smiling and posing for a photo; woman in blue behind man in foreground, date stamp 1994 visible on right.
Group of five adults in formal attire posing for a group portrait indoors at an event.
A family of five adults and a baby pose in a church in front of statues of Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus.
Graduate in cap and gown posing with his parents at a graduation ceremony.
Smiling elderly couple at an outdoor gathering; woman holds a flower and corsage, man wears a maroon-gray argyle sweater vest in the foreground.
Two smiling older adults posing for a photo, a man in a dark vest beside a woman in a light dress.
Six people posing for a group photo in a living room, smiling at the camera.
Smiling man in a tuxedo and a woman in a blue dress pose together at a wedding reception, near a floral arch.
Graduate in cap and gown posing with two smiling adults at a ceremony, one holding a red diploma cover in front of a warmly lit crowd.
Black-and-white photo of a smiling couple in a car, woman in vintage dress and pearls, man in suit; label reads
Smiling couple posing together on a railing with a rugged mountain range behind them.
A couple hugs and smiles at the camera in a room with floral wallpaper and a lamp on a table behind them.
Couple posing arm in arm beside a vintage car, smiling at the camera.
A couple dances closely on a city sidewalk beside a vintage car, with storefronts and bystanders in the background (black-and-white photo).
Smiling couple in vintage attire at a bar, the woman holding a drink, black-and-white photo.
Man in sunglasses and a striped shirt stands beside a woman in a long dress in front of a vintage car outdoors, smiling together.
Two friends posing outdoors, smiling at the camera; left person in a checkered jacket, right person in a light shirt with trees in the background.
Black-and-white photo of eight adults in vintage clothing posing together at a social event.
Four skiers in colorful jackets and goggles stand on a snowy mountainside, posing for a photo.
Smiling grandfather and grandmother sit with four young children on a couch, including a baby, in a cozy living room.
Black-and-white photo of a vintage baseball team posing on a dusty field, players in uniforms with an S on the chest and a man in a dark suit kneeling in front center creating a two-row group portrait.
Smiling shirtless man lounging on a blue pool chair with a colorful parrot perched on his head outdoors.
Smiling couple standing close together at night, both wearing flower leis; woman in striped shirt and white shorts, man in tropical-pattern shirt, pink flowers in background.
Family portrait in a studio: mother on left, three sons in the middle, father on the right, all in formal clothing.
Three people posing outdoors and smiling: a middle-aged woman on the left, an elderly woman in the center, and an older man on the right wearing a teal polo and sunglasses hanging from his shirt.
Couple relaxing on towels at a sunny outdoor gathering; the woman in a blue swimsuit sits beside the man in white shorts and a bandana, both smiling under a shaded area.
Young graduate in cap and gown stands between smiling adults outdoors, posing at a park on graduation day.
Two men sit on a couch in a living room, posing with two life-size flamingo figurines between them.
Two soldiers in WWII-era uniforms with helmets, standing side by side outside a wooden building, rifles slung over their shoulders.
Man stands at the boat's helm while a woman sits in the cockpit on a sailboat cruising on calm water, sunny day.
Smiling elderly couple dancing indoors; woman in a floral blouse, man in a gray suit with a red tie.
Smiling couple in formal wear at a Sun Princess Alaska Cruises dinner table on a ship cruise.]�INVALID
Four men sit around a round wooden table with beer and playing cards in a cozy dining room.
Six men in suits stand around a wooden plaque on a white easel outdoors, with a clear blue sky behind them and red chairs nearby.
Black-and-white portrait of a young man in a suit with a slight smile.
Portrait of a smiling older man in a dark suit, white shirt, and red tie, with hands folded on his lap.
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Visitation
Immanuel Lutheran Church
13445 West Hampton Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
Map
Sunday 5/31, 1:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Service
Immanuel Lutheran Church
13445 West Hampton Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
Map
Sunday 5/31, 3:00 pm
Memorial

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in memory of Donald Wenzel be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church.

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Donald R Wenzel was born on October 11, 1927, in Sullivan, Wisconsin to Roy (Rex) and Norma Wenzel. He passed away on May 20, 2026, in Brookfield Wisconsin. Don is preceded in death by his loving wife, Lila Wenzel. Don is survived by three sons: Steve (Wendy) Wenzel of Adams, WI, Jeff (Karen) Wenzel ofContinue Reading

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Anonymous left a message on May 29, 2026:
On behalf of the Quality team and staff at Johnson Controls, we extend our deepest sympathies.
Red Designer's Choice was purchased for the family of Donald Wenzel by Anonymous. Send Flowers
Connor Baneck left a message on May 24, 2026:
Sending Prayers, know the name well through the Rome and Sullivan Historical Society
Ann Holzhueter left a message on May 23, 2026:
My sincere sympathy to Don's family .Don was a "happy" man & always enjoyed visiting with him at family gatherings. God's Blessings!!
Krause Funeral Home & Cremation Services left a message:
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.
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