I had the privilege of knowing Artie Wendt from a vantage point that most people don’t.  I was one of his son’s best of friends.  Which basically means, Art would do anything for ya if he believed in you and welcomed you into his circle of family.  We used to spend hours on Artie’s & Agnus’s driveway on the front porch laughing, playing basketball and drinking Agnus’s too much sugar lemonade.  Agnus couldn’t make bitter lemonade if she tried, she’s one of the sweetest persons I’ve ever met.  And Paul could shoot the lights out on the driveway.  If this spot was where the NBA played, Paul would be in the NBA hall of fame.  The sunsets on a summer night from here were always one of my favorites.  Our dirty, gravel road dust sweat, dripping from our brows as the colors danced across Art’s land right up the driveway to our Nike’s.  There’s no place I would rather be.  Art would pass by, in and out of the house, headed to the shed always with a smile, a lippy line for Jon and us kids and  all the while towering over us.  He was a giant.  Larger than life.  There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that Art could whip all our whippersnapper asses if we got out of line.  Even Jon looked like a wimp next to his Dad.  So we minded our manners and he let us be the wild boys we were.  Beautifully unspoken.  It was time for us to go off to college.  Jon would be attending Winona and for a moments glance, I thought I might head that way as well and be Jonny’s roommate and give this college thing a whirl.  Finances were a concern for me, I wasn’t sure how I would pull it off, especially in an arena I didn’t have much confidence in.  After taking some time and not being much of an academic, I decided to not risk my fate in a world I wasn’t ready for yet.  But here comes Jon’s Dad Art.  Calls up my Dad and says he’ll pay for my collage and I can pay him back.  To him, I was a good kid, a Smith, he believed in me, maybe thought I was the only one who could keep his son’s ego in check and so it was a worthy investment.  Art told Jon, “even if I don’t pay him back, it’s no skin off his back and it could potentially change the course of my life.  It was a no-brainer, an easy investment,” he said.  It’s a beautiful story.  One I think that says everything about the character and kind of person Art is and will always be.  I say that, because his values, love and presence will always be forever felt because his kids are the same damn way.  The Wendt’s have Heart’s of gold if you have the honor of being in their world at any point in your life.  And I’m also hoping that Jon offers to pay for my son’s college in a few years so I’m hoping the Apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree cause I know it doesn’t.  ; ). Jon possesses pretty much all of Art’s admirable qualities.  Art is A man, my cousin Corey affectionately described as, “a titan of a man.”  And Art was.  Like that out of a novel.  Growing up his son Jon, no matter what, always had our backs, and behind Jon, Artie had his.  I just love that.  It’s how it’s suppose to work.  There’s only a few times in your life that people come out of the woodwork to want to help you in a way that’s so fantastically unusual, and so this moment became special in my life.  Art and Agnus and the whole family of Wendt’s were one of those moments for me.  Art, please know you hold a special place in my heart, you made the sunsets better for me.  Thank you for blessing me with your leadership and one of my best friends I’ve ever had, Jon.  May Jon’s Griffen and Paul’s kids and Suzanne’s kids carry the torch you ignited and it blaze in their hearts as the Wendt’s shine.  Thinking of you, all my love.

Sean and all of the Smith’s

I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Ardie. He bought our farm from my mom and dad (Donald and Louise Stromberg). I remember visiting the farm after Ardie and Agnes bought it, they were extended family to us, and attended my wedding which was 42 years ago this past July. Over the years we have lost touch but will always remember how welcoming the Wendt’s were to us. Thinking of you Agnes and your children and family during this difficult time. My sister Gloria just past away and we celebrated her life at Macken Funeral home as well, a very nice place. My thought and prayers are with you all. God Bless, Cindy (Stromberg) Freeman

Our hearts are with all of you. Ardie was a wonderful brother-in-law and uncle. We will cherish wonderful memories of him always. Please know you are all in our thoughts and prayers. With much love, Jennie and Kristin

I will cherish the time I got to know Arty his way  he got to make me laugh. The  way he loved his wife and family. The way he talked about his farm and farming .  How Agnes would tell her job on the was cooking meals run to the fields to take out lunch and dinner to them, then get back to do job running the dryer nobody  else could do that job cause that was her job and only her.   RIP my Angel  Friend  Arty.....  Keep a watch over all the people who came across  your path... Kim Lawson  I will take good care of Agnes  and make sure she  in good  hands until she is  in your arms. Fly High..... Your are in my thoughts and prayers. Please let me know if u need anything.