Shirley Kageler Wendt of Needville went to be with the Lord on May 10, 2015, in Sugar Land, TX, at the age of 78.

Shirley is survived by her loving husband of 59 ½ years, Delbert; children, Del Wendt and his wife, Christy, Tammy Miller, Pam Sullivan and her husband, Jim, Tommy Wendt and his wife, Debby, Janet Raesner and her husband, Greg; siblings, Barbara McElroy and Phil Kageler and his wife, Dianne; grandchildren, Michelle Stephenson and her husband, Marshall, Kristi Fryer and her husband, Brad, Ryan Lynch and his fiancé, Lauren Feuerbacher, Brittany Kotzur and her husband, Richard, Scott Wendt, Jason Miller, Jill Otto and her husband, Johnny, Cody Mach and his wife, Bianca, Chris Gage and his wife, Mary Esther, Jacob Gage and his wife, Nikki, and Makenzie Raesner; great-grandchildren, Connor, Maddie and Sadie Stephenson, Tyler, Samantha and Will Fryer, Alexis and Viviana Kotzur, Evan Otto, Kylie Gage and Joshua Gage. She is also survived by numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents Bert Kageler and Teresa Kageler Stern, step-father, Lloyd Stern, her in-laws, Edwin and Rosa Wendt and son-in-law, Dave Miller.

Shirley was born on January 8, 1937, in Rosenberg, Texas to Bert and Teresa Kageler. She was a 1955 graduate of Needville High School and later married her high school sweetheart, Delbert Wendt, on October 15, 1955. Shirley and Delbert spent many happy years together enjoying dancing, taking trips to Coushatta, travelling and being with friends and family. Delbert loved and cared for her for 59 ½ years, being by her side always. Over the years, the couple was blessed with the birth of 5 children. Her children and grandchildren remember her as a kind, gentle, patient and fun loving mother and Memaw who was always supportive and there to help in any way she could. She taught them the joys of being a kid by spending days at Astroworld, the Houston Zoo and the Needville Live Oak Club pool. She loved spending time with the grandkids, playing dress-up, board games, and sharing giggles together.

Shirley was a generous and caring individual who loved her family and her church. She was an active and dedicated member of Immanuel United Church of Christ where she served as Choir Director, Funeral Committee Chairman, a member of Sisters in Spirit and Women's Guild. Through the years she volunteered with many organizations including Needville Youth Fair as Historian and Queen Committee member and Senior Citizen's Meals-on-Wheels as a driver to pick up seniors to bring to the site as well as to deliver meals to shut-ins.

She requested the following message be included because it expressed her true feelings:

"To all my friends, family, and loved ones: I was able to love because you let me love. Spread it daily. Never let a day go by that you don't tell someone who needs it that you love them. I am all right with my God. He knows my heart. I bet my life on Him. I'm not worried. May that peace be all of yours; And never forget that service to humanity is the best work of life. And that today is the first day of the rest of your life."

Visitation will be 5-8:00 PM, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at Immanuel United Church of Christ, 9018 Church Street, Needville, Texas 77461. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 AM Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at Immanuel United Church of Christ, with Rev. Tom Schwartz officiating. Burial will follow in IUCC Church Cemetery, Needville, TX.

Donations in her memory can be made to Immanuel United Church of Christ Memorial Fund, 9018 Church Street, Needville, TX 77461.

Condolence messages may be written for the Wendt family at www.garmanycarden.com.


Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 3103 School Street, Needville, TX 77461 (979)793-4515.