Robert Wenzel

Robert Wenzel passed over on November 16, 2008 in Farmington, New Mexico. He was born September 3, 1922 in Douglas, Arizona as an only child to Otto Robert Wenzel, a German immigrant and Lizzie Maude Gilbert Wenzel whose father migrated from Ireland. Otto and Lizzie were both very intelligent and Lizzie had a good business sense, which Robert inherited. Robert attended grade school in Douglas where he excelled as a student and subsequently skipped a couple of grades. Otto's job as a brick contractor later took the family to Tucson after which Robert graduated from Tucson high school at 16 years of age. Robert stayed close to home after he graduated because his father had developed a lung disease and he helped his family. He was very close to his mother and shared a lot of her physical characteristics. Robert left home after joining the Navy, where he spent some time on an island in the South Pacific. He was a Chief Radio Technician - a warrant officer, which was a high rank for an enlisted man. During the time he was waiting to be called to battle, he made and sold booze and possibly designed a still. He made alcohol out of anything he could get - raisins, potatoes - and sold it for $50 a quart. Robert always was a good salesman. In July of 1945 he returned to the Oakland, California area and was discharged from the Navy. He married Donna McKea a short while later, August 5, 1945, in the Old Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. Robert caught a ride in an Air force plane going to Tucson and Donna followed three weeks later. He achieved a high entry score after enrolling at the University of Arizona in Tucson and went on to complete his engineering degree in 1950, graduating with high scores. His first son, Thor, was born on November 22, 1947 in Tucson, Arizona. A couple of years later, he took a position with E. J. Dupont in the mining department as a tech rep and was sent to Albuquerque, New Mexico. His second son, Brad, was born in Albuquerque on August 23, 1950. Robert was being groomed for a management position with Dupont, but he wanted to own his own business, so he left Dupont in July of 1953. At that time, he bought into a mining supply business in Colorado (Naturita Supply) and in 1955 bought out his partners. He sold the business around 1959 and moved to Farmington, New Mexico that same year. Robert traveled and sold pipe, rails and other equipment and he became involved in several business ventures. He and Donna divorced in 1965. Robert married Maxine Brumfield on February 14, 1966 and they lived in a house on Watson Street in Farmington. Soon after, they moved to a house on Sunset Street, where they resided until early 2007. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, second wife, Maxine Wenzel and step-son, Samuel Caldwell. Robert is survived by his sons, Thor Otto Wenzel and wife, Tamara, of Jacksonville, Florida and Brad Lee Wenzel and wife, Victoria, of Farmington, New Mexico. Robert is also survived by two step-sons, Andy Caldwell and wife, Sheri, of Farmington, New Mexico and Joseph Caldwell and wife Denise, of Oklahoma. He leaves behind six grandchildren, three great grandchildren and his cat, Susie. When Robert ever had a discussion pertaining to God, he would often be heard to say: "I believe she is black". He always remained thankful for the fact that City Councilor Mary Fischer saved the cotton wood tree on the corner of 20th Street just next to St. Mary's Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Shiners Children's Hospital, Masonic Lodge at 114 N. Behren Ave., Farmington, NM 87401. Robert is in the care of: Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home 103 E. Ute Street Farmington, New Mexico (505) 325-8688