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.
Our deepest sympathy toAvis’s family. We were so saddened to hear this. We were Avis’s next door neighbors onPershing. she and John meant so much to us. We helped each other out when needed and a lot of laughs and conversations while outside!
Avis was an employee of the Optometric Center for a number of years. She was organized, efficient and wonderful with patients. Avis had a way of making others feel comfortable and could engage anyone in conversation.
We were fortunate to know Avis, her husband and son. They are together now which is a blessing. Sending sympathy to her sister and other family members.
Avis was a great supporter of the Elijah Buell Family. Our son, Earl, and John Jr were in school together. She always had that beautiful smile and greeting for you. We even had to take mail back and forth when the mailman missed the address. She is happy now with John and Jr.
Avis and John were great friends and customers of mine for years. I knew her mother too, she called Avis “Junie”. They gave me a ” pass” to come North of the “Big Tree” which I still proudly show my Lyons friends. God Bless you Avis…
Avis was my neighbor for several years, until she moved to West Virginia to be with her Sister. Avis was a lovely woman, blessed with a remarkable memory, and wonderfully wry sense of humor. She also made the world’s best bean soup! I love Avis, and will miss her until we meet again in Heaven, where we will laugh together once more.