George T. Wendt

George T. Wendt, 74, Cherry Valley, passed away to be with his heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, on November 9, 2015, with his family at his side, after an extended battle with cancer. George fought his battle with great courage and never lost faith in our Lord. His priorities were always his faith, family, and career.
George was born May 18, 1941, in Springfield, the son of George T. and Adrienne (Short) Wendt. He spent his early years growing up in Warsaw, IL after moving from Springfield at the age of two. He graduated from Warsaw High School and continued his education at Western Illinois University from 1959 through 1961.
George married the former Barbara Getz of Keokuk, IA on December 2, 1961, in Davenport, IA. He and his wife were happily married for 54 years and have three children.
George’s family was always the pride and joy of his life. He was always involved with his children’s activities during their youth. He coached Little League Baseball and Rocket Football in Kalamazoo, MI, and was an assistant basketball coach at both of his son’s grade schools.
George could always be counted on spiritually, emotionally, and physically, by his entire family. During both of his careers he was recognized and praised for his fairness to everyone with whom he worked.
George was employed by Sears Roebuck & Co. for 31 years, retiring early in 1993, as the National Business Manager of Direct Marketing. He served in numerous executive positions with Sears throughout the Midwest. He managed both of the Sears store in Rockford prior to being promoted as the General Manager of the Woodfield Mall store in Schaumburg. After his career with Sears, he joined Staff Management, Inc., a human resource consulting firm, a part of the local Morrissey Family of Businesses. George retired from that position after 10 years serving as Vice President.
He had a great deal of empathy and believed in helping the less fortunate. George served on various boards including the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, Family Consultation Services, St. Vincent de Paul Society, North American Retailer Dealers Association. (NARDA), and was president of the CherryVale Mall Association while managing the CherryVale Sears store during the mid-eighties.
He and his wife Barbara are members of St. Rita Catholic Church. Prior to that he was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharistic Minister and regularly administered Holy Communion to the sick and shut-ins. Barbara has said many times that George was her faithful best friend, husband, lover and soul mate.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara; his sons, Mark of Rockford, and Michael (Amy) of Fort Wayne, IN, and his daughter, Angela (Michael) Burnett of Portland, OR; his nine grandchildren, Amanda and Matthew Wendt, Joseph, Justin, Jason, Megan and Miyah Wendt, Alyssa and Ryan Burnett, and one great-grandchild, Mylah. He is also survived by a sister, Joan (Geoff) Goetz of Supply, NC. He considered his four brothers- in- law, Terry Getz (deceased), Tim Getz and Thomas Getz of Keokuk, IA, and Geoff Goetz of Supply, NC as the brothers he never had.
He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Joyce Gray, of Quincy, his father-law-law and mother-in-law,, Joseph and Freda Getz, his brother- in-law Terry Getz and his sister-in-law Linda Humphrey.

Memorial Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, November 13, 2015, at St. Rita Catholic Church, 6254 Valley Knoll Dr. Rockford, with Reverend John Evans officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, November 12, 2015, with the Rosary recited at 7:00 P.M at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S .Mulford Rd. and from 9;30 A.M. until 10:15 A.M. on Friday, at the church. Private family burial will be in Highland Garden of Memories Cemetery in Belvidere. In lieu of flowers, the Wendt family respectfully suggests a donation to the Hope for Haitians organization at info@hopeforhaitians.org. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.