Ronny Wenzel
Ronny Wenzel died Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. A celebration of life party will be held Aug. 17 at Wenzel Hall.
He was a self-made man of many talents.
Ronny was born in 1938 to Lena Ott and Albert Wenzel. Growing up he enjoyed many fond memories playing with cousins at Grandpa and Grandma Wenzel’s home in the Womack community near Clifton.
Ronny learned to work at an early age throwing a newspaper route, working for the neighborhood air conditioner business in Oak Cliff and sacking groceries, where everyone knew his name. He left for the Air Force while in high school, learning to be an airplane mechanic.
While at Fort Chennault in Louisiana he met Naomi Leach. After four years in the military, he married Naomi, and they moved to Dallas and had four children together. He then went on to receive his GED, went to college for a business degree and worked at the Florsheim Shoe Store. He soon realized college was not for him and began a lengthy and successful career in life insurance, winning many awards.
At about this time in his life, Ronny made the decision to join the Masonic Lodge and has been an active member for over 50 years, holding multiple positions and leading community initiatives such as the can collections. Always willing to help and provide his thoughts and opinions, we can safely say he was a credit to the organization.
After a time, the decision was made to move the entire family to rural Hamilton. Ronny began managing the Railroad Salvage, then later Gap Foods where he learned to process deer and make sausage.
Having been influenced by family members who owned their own mom-and-pop grocery stores, Ron wanted a business for his family. Thus began a new chapter in his life in entrepreneurship. He and his sister, Lavon, started The Dutchman’s on the south side of Hamilton in 1976. After it burned down in 1983, Ron purchased the old Hidden Valley, making it a cornerstone establishment. He was also instrumental in helping to establish each of his four children in their own businesses.
In 1998, Ronny married his life partner, Sharla. They went on to raise buffalo for almost three decades.
Ronny was preceded in death by his oldest son, Koelling, and grandson, Ethan.
Ronny is survived by his wife, Sharla; children Kent, Kevin and wife Ladonne and Kara; the mother of his children, Naomi Thompson; sister Lavon May; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and Leggs, the guard dog.
The family invites you to a celebration of life party Saturday Aug. 17, 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Wenzel Hall, 209 N. Bell St. Beer, Brats and Tall Tales to be served.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Judes or the local Masonic Lodge, or bring a tree for Sharla to plant in his memory.
