Lillian Sophie (Martens) Wenzel, the daughter of Henry and Louisa (Krause) Martens was born in the rural Freedom, Nebraska home of her parents on November 29, 1917.  She died at the age of 98 years on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at the Heart of America Care Center in Rugby, North Dakota.

Lillian was raised in the home of her parents and received her education in a country school near their farm home.  She was baptized in a small Lutheran church in Bartley, Nebraska and received into full communion with our Lord at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Moorefield, Nebraska by the solemn rite of Confirmation on June 11, 1933.  On August 20, 1943, Lillian was united in marriage to Martin Wenzel at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Moorefield.  Martin was ordained on September 19, 1943 in accordance with the rites of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.  Now the wife of a Pastor, Lillian would make her home over the future years to come in the communities of the congregations that would call him.  Some of those congregations were Tenstrike, MN, Willow City, Rugby & Glenburn in ND, Humboldt, NE and Kroschel, Blackduck & Cass Lake, all in Minnesota.  After the couple retired, they moved back to the Willow City area and took residence on the Albena Gruszie farm, calling it home for 12 years.  They then moved to rural Upham for a time and in 2006, Rugby became their final home community.  Pastor Martin died May 7, 2008.  Lillian remained in her own home until 2011, she moved to the Care Center.

Lillian enjoyed membership these last years at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Rugby, and in the women’s groups of the congregations they served.  She had an inborn need to serve and help others and when time allowed, enjoyed needle work, gardening, canning and always looked forward to Bingo at the Care Center.  Lillian was truly a people person.

She is survived by one daughter, Marian (Paul) Burrell of Aurora, Colorado; two grandsons, David and Brian Markowski; five great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years; one daughter, Sharon Markowski; her parents and nine siblings. 

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 30, 2016 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rugby with spring burial in the Lynch Immanuel Cemetery, Ruthville.  Pastor Joshua Reimche, officiating.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the time of services at the church on Saturday.