Wanita Lentz

Wanita Evelyn Lentz, 91, of Baroda passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2019 at Petrona’s Country Home in Baroda. She will be able to celebrate Christmas once again with her dear husband, Harvey and her Lord in heaven.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2673 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville, with the Reverend Jeremy Koehler officiating. Burial will be at Ruggles Cemetery, Baroda. Family and friends may gather from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, December 16, 2019 at the Boyd Chapel of Pike Funeral and Cremation Services, 9191 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, the “Building on God’s Blessings” fund. Online condolences may be made at www.PikeFH.com.

Wanita was born on November 13, 1928 in Galien, Michigan and was one of five children born to Raymond and Eleanor (Luther) Metzger. She was one smart lady, graduating from Galien High School in 1945 at the age of 16 and shortly afterwards started her first job at I & M Electric Company in Buchanan. She loved that job and enjoyed interacting with customers and co-workers and remained friends with “the girls” all through-out her life. One of her favorite past-times was polka dancing, so it was fitting that she met her husband, Harvey, at a dance on  Halloween night in downtown Stevensville and a couple of years later they were married on November 20, 1948. She could hardly wait to begin her married life, but per her father’s wishes she waited until she was 20 years old. So, one week after she turned 20, they were married. Their great journey began and they were able to celebrate a wonderful 52 years together until Harvey passed in April of 2001.

She was baptized and confirmed as a member of St Paul’s Lutheran Church on April 2, 1950 and remained an active member until her death.

She continued working at I & M until she started her family. Then she took time off to raise her children and to help Harvey on their 40-acre farm and to pursue other interests such as sewing, knitting, working in the yard and her rock garden. She loved to cook and bake and especially enjoyed trying out new recipes on the family – she had hundreds of them! Wanita also enjoyed playing Bingo, card games, polka dancing, traveling, Sunday drives and Lakeshore Basketball. She enjoyed emailing friends and family and using Facebook to stay in touch with everyone, and was a whiz at using “google” to find out anything that she wanted to know! After her children were all in school, she went to work for Lakeshore Public Schools in the food service program and worked there for almost 30 years until her (well-deserved) retirement.

Her greatest joys were her six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. They always were able to put a smile on her face and she loved the time that she spent with them.

Survivors include her children: Cynthia (Patrick) Moynihan, Stephen (Susan) Lentz, Karen (Rick) Weich; grandchildren: Daniel Moynihan, Allen Weich, Kyle (Kelley) Weich, Kevin (Anita) Weich, Heather (Anthony) Martin, Eric Lentz; great grandchildren: Madalyn, Melanie, Harvey, Miranda, Easton, Wyatt, Sadie; and a brother, Donald (Colette) Metzger.

Wanita was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey in 2001 and her siblings: Richard Metzger, Lucille Scheer, and Meryl Gillespie.

Wanita had a wonderful life and made a lasting impression on many people. We are so grateful for Mom’s caregivers who showed such great love and compassion to her during her last few weeks of life – thank you. She was dearly loved and will be missed by all of us. Our tears are falling, but you are now enjoying your eternal life with Jesus.

Love you Mom, Grandma, and Grandma Great!