Earl Jeffrey Wendel, age 94, passed away on December 4, 2020 at his home in Colbert, WA, which is next to Spokane, WA. He was born on August 9th, 1926 in Chicago, the son of Elmer and Victoria Wendel. His early years began in Chicago during the Depression and times were tough for the family. When Earl was 12 his father got a new job with International Harvester in East Moline and the family moved to Silvis. Earl played trumpet in the high school band and with the band marched down Soldier Field during the halftime of an all-star football game. He graduated from United Township High School, East Moline, IL in 1944 and served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. While in the service Earl studied engineering at Michigan State University for a time and after the war continued his education and graduated from Augustana College with a degree in Business. Earl met Dorothy Stead, of the famous Stead sisters, while attending Augustana, fell in love, and they were married December 1950 in Aledo. Earl worked many years for Prudential in Moline as an agent, then staff manager, then on to be district manager in Granite City, IL. He left Prudential and went independent in his later professional years specializing in group insurance and financial planning. He always said how much he enjoyed his work and helping people that he met. Earl was active in community service and once served as president of the Moline Optimist Club. He enjoyed playing golf, hunting, fishing, tennis, volleyball, bridge, watching his grandchildren play various sports, and traveling. Earl loved music and was an accomplished trumpet and harmonica player and amateur magician. He always kept up on current events and was known as a great conversationalist. For most of his life he lived in the Quad Cities - Silvis, Moline, East Moline but for several years lived in Collinsville, IL. He and Dorothy enjoyed spending winter months at their second home in Apache Junction, AZ. In August 2016 he moved to Spokane, WA to be closer to his son, Jeff. Soon after he arrived in Spokane he enjoyed watching the Cubs win the 2016 World Series with Jeff. Earl was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, parents Elmer and Victoria, in laws Roy and Ruth Stead, and his brothers Richard Wendel and George Wendel. He is survived by his children, Pam (Ron) Williams of Homewood, IL , Jeff (Robin) Wendel of Spokane, WA, and Nancy (Greg) Neels of Cape Fair, MO; 7 grandchildren; and 9 great grandchildren. Due to Covid restrictions a graveside service will be held in Moline Memorial Park at a later date. Donations may be made in his honor to a Hospice of your choice or Arts of Life, Chicago. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.vanhoe.com

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