John William Wenger was born on April 24, 1937 in Corunna, Indiana. He is preceded in death by his parents Rev. Willam and Berniece Wenger and sister Dorothy Eunice Tegtmeier. John is survived by his two sisters, Elsie Buck, married to Ron Soplata, Lois Sommermeyer, married to David, and one brother, Paul Wenger, married to Margaret. John married Pamela Diane Switzer in 1961. John and Pam have a son, Jonathan Paul, and a daughter, Erika Marie.

John and Pam were blessed with grandsons John Sheldon and Peter William born to parents Jonathan and Shana Wenger. They were also blessed with three grandsons Robert James, Joseph Richard, and Timothy Morris born to parents Erika and Chris Gardiner. Chris and Erika are awaiting adoption of their daughter Elena Bethany from Mexico.

John, baptized as an infant, was active in the Lutheran church throughout his life. For many years, John found great joy singing as a member of the church choir. John’s trust has been in his loving and forgiving savior Jesus Christ who welcomed John into his eternal home on March 9, 2026.

John attended Washington University in St. Louis, MO and graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor of science degree. He completed a masters degree in mathematics at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. John taught math at Bemidji High School from 1963 to spring 1967. John taught math and computer science at Concordia University, St. Paul from September 1967 until his retirement in 1999. While teaching at Concordia University, John enjoyed and cherished coaching the golf team as well as traveling on tour with the Chapel Choir. During a leave of absence from Concordia University, John took his family to Tokyo, Japan in 1975 where he taught at the American School in Japan for two years.

After John and Pam both retired, they enjoyed many years of traveling together, both overseas and within the US, Canada, and Mexico. During their travels, John and Pam enjoyed visiting friends and family while also exploring many beautiful places. John and Pam cherished winter months visiting Erika and family in Phoenix, AZ. Many summer afternoons were enjoyed by John and Pam watching grandsons John and Peter play baseball. John and Pam enjoyed walking together around a lake behind their home in Woodbury, MN and playing golf. Annually, John also enjoyed hunting in northern Minnesota and fishing in Canada with former colleagues and friends.

Visitation and Funeral Location:

St. John Lutheran Church, 1975 St John’s Dr, Woodbury, MN 55129

Visitation: 10:00AM - 11:00AM, April 17, 2026

Funeral service: 11:00AM - 12:00PM, April 17, 2026

Service live stream available at: https://stjohnwoodbury.org/online-worship/

A luncheon will follow the service at at St. John Lutheran Church.

Internment will be a private ceremony with family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to either St. John Lutheran Church-Woodbury or Concordia University, St. Paul.