Duane G. Wendte (61) of Effingham

Duane G. Wendte, 61, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 15 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Effingham, IL. Burial will be at Loy Cemetery in Effingham. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham.

Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, American Heart Association, or donor’s choice. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here.

Duane was born on April 24, 1957, in Effingham, IL, the son of Gilbert and Dolores (Diehl) Wendte. After graduation from Effingham High School, he attended Bailey Tech in St. Louis, MO. Duane was a diesel mechanic that worked at Yellow Freight, 76 Truck Stop, Effingham Truck Sales, and currently at Rush Truck Center.

Duane married Christine Schultz on June 14, 1980 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Louisville, IL. Duane ‘s passion was farming and he enjoyed being able to do that with his wife, Christine and father-in-law, Ray. He loved tinkering around the farm and thought he could fix anything. He loved the challenge of learning how things worked by taking them apart and putting them back together. With one example being the old dependable washing machine and dryer that he kept reviving for 24 years. Most mornings, he could be found working in the shed on machinery or playing with the granddaughters.

Duane is survived by his wife of 38 years, Christine Wendte of Effingham; mother, Dolores Schoenhoff of Watson; son, Darren Wendte of Collinsville; daughter, Lanette (husband, Neil) Stuckey of Effingham, son, Byron (wife, Katie) Wendte of Springfield; son, Ryan Wendte of Effingham; grandchildren, Kaylee Stuckey, Jayla Stuckey, Raylen Stuckey, Lilly Kate Wendte, and soon to arrive twins. Also surviving are siblings, Donald (Pat) Wendte of Watson, Dale Wendte of Watson, Doug Wendte of Watson, Diane (Dean) Greuel of Sigel, Debbie Sanders of Watson, and Dawn (Dan “Fred”) Roedl of Mason; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ray and Elizabeth Schultz of Dieterich; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Raymond and Debbie Schultz of Shumway, Ervin and Diana Schultz of Westfield, Kent and Kim Schultz of Creal Springs, Jeanetta and Eric Klay of Dieterich, and Clella Schultz of Champaign.

He was preceded in death by his father, Gilbert Wendte; and brother-in-law, Dan Schultz.