Obituary of Melvin S. Wenger

Melvin S. Wenger went home to be with Jesus on November 22, 2025. He was 98 years old.

Mel was the beloved husband of the late Janette Kreider Wenger for more than 78 years before her passing in December of 2024. They met on March 4, 1945, when Janette was only 16 years old, and were married on October 12, 1946. They always said it was God who brought them together and who blessed them so abundantly throughout their marriage.

Born in Birdsboro, Berks County, Mel was the son of the late John N. and Phoebe Sensenig Wenger. He was the oldest of their twelve children. When Mel was eighteen months old, his parents moved to the Wenger family farm along the Cocalico Creek in Warwick Township. Mel went to Millport one-room Elementary School and then transferred to Rothsville High School. In 1952, he graduated from Chicago Technical College with a certification in blueprint reading, drafting, construction cost estimating, and construction supervision. Mel worked for Warfel Construction Company of Lancaster.

Mel was a member of Mellinger Mennonite Church since 1998. Prior to that, he was a member of Lititz Mennonite Church. Throughout his life, he was involved in church work, served on many committees, and taught Sunday School classes.

After Mel retired from Warfel Construction Company in 1990, he volunteered with Eastern Mennonite Missions as a consultant to the Properties Committee. From age 75 to 85, Mel was kept busy renovating and repairing houses. His wife Janette served as his helper during these projects.

Throughout his life, Mel’s greatest satisfaction came when he could spend time with his children, grandchildren or great grandchildren. Extra special times were when the entire family got together for picnics or holiday dinners.

He is survived by four children: Kenneth (Kathy Duvall) Wenger, Lititz; Jay (Susie Shenk) Wenger, Lancaster; Janet (Donald) Sell, Southaven, MS; and Sheri (Gordon) Wenger, Lancaster. There are six grandchildren: Jessica (Anthony) Oriti, Lancaster; Bethany Wenger (Travis) Moore, Minneapolis, MN; Michael (Nicole Drawbaugh) Wenger, Elizabethtown; Kira (Jordan) Kauffman, Lancaster; Katie Wenger, Harrisonburg, VA; Rein (Jenna Lapp) Wenger, Lancaster. Also, four step-grandchildren: Douglas (Erin Long) Sell, Lancaster; Dean (Lindsey Miller) Sell, Thompsons Station, TN; Dana (Aaron) Benedict, Windsor, CO; and Dawn (David) Boulter, Annandale, VA. There are sixteen great grandchildren: Arabella and Luca Oriti; Makenna, Sasha, and Malachi Kauffman; Alice and Colin Sell; Chloe, Liam and Willow Sell; Brek, Ella and Hunter Benedict; and Kai, Tobin and Zion Boulter.

He is survived by seven siblings: John (Esther Garber) Wenger, Manheim; Miriam (John) Arbaugh, Stuarts Draft, VA; Phoebe Ann (Melvin) Sensenig, East Earl; Irvin (Janet Stoner) Wenger, Terre Hill; Ivan (Nancy Stauffer) Wenger, Lititz; Esther (Donald) Gingrich, Lancaster; and Lois (Leon) Sensenig, Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada; and brother-in-law, Phares Weaver, Ephrata.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Lester (Mary Jane Stauffer) Wenger, Manheim and Earl (Rose Enck) Wenger, Lincoln, and two sisters, Ruth (Phares) Weaver, Ephrata and Irene (Harry Zimmerman), Lititz.

A private family burial was held at Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at Mellinger Mennonite Church on Saturday, January 24 at 2:00 PM. The family will receive guests from 1:00 PM until the time of the service at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, financial contributions in memory of Melvin can be made to Camp Hebron, 957 Camp Hebron Rd, Halifax, PA 17032.