Carl Edward Wendlandt

Rochester, NY – Carl Edward Wendlandt passed away June 2, 2023 at the age of 89. Carl was born the fourth of seven children to William and Bernice (Polzin) on November 5, 1933 in La Crosse, WI. Carl graduated from Logan High School in 1951 and served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956. Carl took classes at several colleges before and after moving to Galesburg, IL, where he married Dolores Tarr in 1959. They welcomed their only child, William Carl Wendlandt, on April 28, 1966. Carl moved to the Harrisburg, PA area in 1973 where he spent many years working in the loan department at Commonwealth National Bank (Mellon). In 2005 Carl moved to Rochester, NY, and lived the remainder of his years there, close to his son and grandchildren.

Carl was an accomplished amateur painter and author, creating many oil paintings and compiling a volume of poetry. He was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed poetry, war-time historical accounts, and all things related to Abraham Lincoln. His love of history was also satiated by collecting coins, stamps, and Civil War artifacts. From an early age he enjoyed the outdoors, starting with getting his first taste for fishing on the mighty Mississippi. Carl valued his relationship with God and spent his life working out his beliefs and faith in Christ, his Savior. Additionally, Carl loved dogs, and visits from his grand-dogs near the end of his life always brought joy and a smile. He also delighted in meeting and interacting with his great grandchildren. Finally, throughout his life, Carl was characterized by his wit; well-read, intelligent, and opinionated, he could engage in conversation or lively debate for hours about a myriad of topics. Even towards the end of his life when illness often clouded his understanding, he would occasionally sally a humorous quip or wisecrack, entertaining his companions.

Carl is survived by his son, William (Kelly) of Rochester; two sisters, Ruth Schultz of Onalaska, WI, and Linda Ender of Clarksville, Tennessee; three grandchildren, Laura (Scott) Burdick of Ypsilanti, MI, Timothy (Jessica) Wendlandt of Glenshaw, PA, and Nathaniel Wendlandt of Phoenix, AZ; and two great-grandchildren, Samuel and Joseph Burdick of Ypsilanti, MI. Carl was preceded in death by his parents; his former spouse; two stepdaughters, Elizabeth Shaw and Diana Strickland; two brothers, Wesley Wendlandt and Donald Wendlandt; and two sisters, Lorraine Rice and Patsy Philips.

Celebration of Life will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home, 6 Empire Blvd., Rochester, NY, on 6/9/23 at 5pm.

Click to view Carl's service

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

"My God"
by Carl E. Wendlandt

"I cannot understand man, let alone God,"
Once said longest ago in Proverbs sometimes
Inscrutable.
And I too fail man in understanding.
Nor do I understand this King, the King of all Sovereigns.
But ask me if I know my God; is he my comfort?
I know that my God will right a wrong, but never know when;
I know that my God will ever save me from my foolishness, but never when;
He never tells me.
Daily and yes, sooner, he snatches me from this world's madness.
And lets me live on.
He maps my long and dusty trails over the continents of life for me
And my path ne'er errs an inch; even on water
He raises me in the morning and rests me late in day,
If it is time.
And he has always told me clearly (I will know his voice!)
When words none sweeter, "Come home, now the fire is Lit, at the table, come sit."