Virginia Ruth (Loy) Wendt (95) of Watson

Virginia Ruth (Loy) Wendt, 95, started her journey to heaven on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 3:00 a.m. at her home in Watson surrounded by her beloved children, who will miss her deeply.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Effingham. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery in Teutopolis. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. followed by a 7:00 p.m. rosary on Friday, September 22, 2023 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary or Sacred Heart School. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here.

Virginia was born April 23, 1928, the daughter of Ralph and Caroline (Hook) Loy in Effingham County. She was the oldest of seven children. She attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse on Loy Prairie. She graduated 8th grade there. Afterwards, she was a nanny and housekeeper until she went to work at the Vulcan Shoe Factory, which would become the Illinois Glove Factory. She married Henry Wendt in July of 1947. To this union, eleven children were born. Virginia wore many hats in her time as a wife to a carpenter, oil well worker, and dairy farmer while raising a family. After her last child went to school, she studied for and received her GED. She went to work for Head Start as a teacher’s aide for several years. Afterwards, she worked at King’s Kountry Kitchen in Teutopolis for 9 years. She then, again, became a nanny and housekeeper. Virginia retired in 1998. There is no way to tell or explain all she did to help her children learn and grow. She was very talented and could be very creative when it came to our interests and school projects. She was a guitar player, a poet, an artist, a seamstress, and a very good cook. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards, and country music. She was very active for years at the Watson Civic Center, as well as a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary. She was also always very dedicated to her family. She was a rock for the entire family, a wonderful advisor, and confidant.

Virginia is survived by her children, Linda Dhom of Newton, IL, Larry (Karen) Wendt of rural Effingham, Janice (Jack) Wear of Effingham; Peggy Wendt (Mike Robertson) of Jackson, MO, Kenny Wendt (deceased), Ralph Wendt (deceased), Becky (Tim) Heuerman of Teutopolis; Don (Kristy) Wendt of Sigel, Karl (Jackie) Wendt of Teutopolis, Jackie (Kurt) Strohl of Watson, and Steve (Anita) Wendt of Lucas, TX; daughter-in-law, Rita Wendt of Montrose; 28 grandchildren, 62 great-grandchildren, 10 great-greatgrandchildren; siblings, Mary Lou Yocum of Edgewood, Susan (Jim) Feldhake of Effingham, and Judy (David) Ochs of Bulverde, TX; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Henry; sons, Kenny Wendt and Ralph Wendt; granddaughter, Jodi Wear; great-grandchildren, Hope and Grace Chasteen, and Matthew Rincker; siblings, Rita Yocum, Robert Loy, and Irene Pocrnich; sons-in-law, John Barbara and Ted Dhom; and brothers-in-law, Mark Pocrnich, Robert Yocum, and Ervin Yocum; and sister-in-law, Frankie “Joy” Loy.