Avis June Wendt, age 82, formerly of Clinton, IA, passed away Monday Dec. 7,2020 at Camden – Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg, WV. Following Avis’s wishes cremation rites will be accorded. Graveside services will be held at St. Boniface Cemetery, Clinton, IA, with Pastors Ron Lott and Jerry Danzinger officiating. The Pape Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com
Avis was born on April 17, 1938 in Puckett, MS to Gerald and Mildred (Purvis) White. They divorced and in 1946 Mildred married Bob Hannafan. The family moved to Clinton, IA. Avis graduated from Clinton High School in 1956. She returned to Jackson, MS where she graduated from Jackson Business College. After 4 years she returned to Clinton. On July 6, 1963 she married John Wendt, Sr. They lived at 3007 Pershing Blvd. where they raised their son John, Jr. John, Sr. passed away in 2000 and John, Jr. passed away in 2012.
Avis loved gardening and had beautiful flowers and vegetables. She bowled for 16 years on the Ladies Monday night league. She also loved reading, dancing and entertaining her friends with parties at her home. She loved her many pets, both cats and dogs, especially her last two cats, Harry & Hector. Avis & her husband were avid Hawkeye fans and held season tickets for over thirty years. When Avis found First Baptist Church in Clinton she knew she had found her spiritual home. It was a blessing and she gained so many lifelong friends as her new family.
Avis is survived by her sister, Robin (Jim) McGrath of Parkersburg, WV, and their children Andy McGrath and his wife Katie Player of Seattle, WA, daughter Tracy (Travis) Smith and their daughter Amelia of Vincent, OH, and son Darby McGrath and fiancé, Stormi Watkins of Davisville, WV. She is also survived by her uncle Dick Hannafan of NY plus many, many cousins, nieces, nephews and special friends Connie Brashaw and Joe & Sue Wilkinson . Avis will be met in Heaven by her grandparents, mother, father, step-father, husband, son and friends. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Clinton Humane Society or to your favorite charity.
