BRADLEY C. WENDEL, age 33,
of Coldwater, formerly of New Bremen, died suddenly on Sunday, September 11, 2022 as the result of a motor vehicle accident. He was born on August 17, 1989 in St. Marys, the son of Christopher and Diane (Subler) Wendel who survive in New Bremen. On August 29, 2020, he married Lauren Houseworth who survives in Coldwater along with their newborn son, Carson C. Wendel. Also surviving are Brad’s siblings: Nicole (Leo Braido) Wendel and her children Savannah and Silas of Minster, Cody (Heather) Wendel and their children Levi and Bo of New Bremen, and Troy Wendel of Chicago; his grandparents: Richard and Martha Subler of New Bremen, and Gerald and Dorothy Wendel of Coldwater. Also left to cherish Brad’s memory are his father and mother in-law Chris and Pam Houseworth of New Bremen, his in-laws: Mandy and Jeremy Krieg and their children Logan, Izzy, and Amelia of New Bremen, and Erin and Ed Kohli and their children Caiden and Sophia of St. Marys, grandparents in law; Charlie Brockert of New Bremen, and Phoebe Houseworth of St. Marys. Brad was preceded in death by grandparents in-law Janice Brockert and Roy Houseworth.
Brad was a 2008 graduate of New Bremen High School, and was a member of the Church of the Holy Redeemer in New Bremen. He was an outside plant manager for Wabash Mutual Telephone Company in Celina, a job that he really loved. To say that he was a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan was an understatement, and enjoyed watching football and following the team all season long. He also had a passion for playing softball, and in the summer, he spent many weekends playing for one of three teams. He loved his three dogs, especially Tyson, and he and Lauren enjoyed taking them on walks to the park and swimming with them.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 10:30 A.M. at the Church of the Holy Redeemer in New Bremen with Rev. Father Ken Schnipke and Deacon Greg Bornhorst officiating. The mass will also be live-streamed on the church’s YouTube and Facebook pages. Interment will follow in the German Protestant Cemetery of New Bremen. Calling hours will be held on Friday, September 16, 2022 from 3:00 until 7:00 P.M. at the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen, and again on Saturday, at the church, from 9:00 until 10:00 A.M. Memorial contributions in Brad’s memory can be made to support a scholarship fund for Carson’s future education. Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen is assisting the family with arrangements, and condolences to the family can be left on the funeral home website at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.