Walter "Walt" Benjamin Vendsel's Obituary
WALTER B. VENDSEL
1949 - 2016
Walter B. Vendsel of St. Helens died at home on June 27 after a long illness, surrounded by his wife, pastor and friends.
Walt was born April 16, 1949, in Portland, Oregon to Gerald Karl and Varian “Marie” (Hendryx) Vendsel. As a boy, he spent several years in Cannon Beach with his grandparents, a time and place he always fondly remembered.
Walt loved learning and never stopped. He received an AA degree from California’s Bakersfield College in June 1969, and then a BA in history from Chico State University in 1971. He married Angela Bardes in 1971, and they later returned to Portland. Walt felt God calling him into ministry, and he earned his Master’s in Divinity from Western Seminary in June 1976. The couple started a family in Portland, and Walt served as pastor of Glencoe Baptist Church in southeast Portland. Pastoring there and later, at First Conservative Baptist Church in Anchorage, Alaska, were some of his favorite years. Even when he was not in the pulpit, Walt remained a man with a pastor’s heart. He was an outstanding Bible teacher, who memorized long passages from God’s Word, and loved to open his home to study groups. He is remembered for that deep love for Jesus, his desire to research and dig into Scripture, and for his powerful prayers.
Walt grew up fishing and hunting, but a fishing pastime evolved into a passion during four years in Anchorage, Alaska. After a move to Texas in 1989, Walt worked at GTE in sales and customer service. However, he carved out two weeks each summer for an Alaskan fishing trip with his young son, funded by mowing lawns in their spare time. Fishing, baking apple pies, gardening, camping and thinking up entrepreneurial ideas were all part of Walt. He loved to design and build things, especially in wood. Some of his best fishing trips were enhanced by a tall Stanley thermos filled with hot coffee that was liberally sugared. Hot dogs on sticks over a campfire and telling fishing tales were his idea of a good time.
On November 19, 2003, Walt married a second time, to Pamela Bruner, of Bedford, Texas. She shared his love of fishing and camping, and within months, the couple settled in Columbia County. For several years, they served as foster parents at their place on Scappoose Bay. Walt was a friend and mentor to other children, too. He took deep pride in his children’s many accomplishments and was thrilled to become a grandfather. He had hoped to bring the little ones out to Oregon and teach them how to fish; most importantly, he wanted to teach them about Jesus.
Walt was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Pamela; son, Michael (Rachael) Vendsel of Dallas, Texas; daughters, Sarah (Radu) Dudas, of Loma Linda, California and Karen (Dave) Norvell of North Richland Hills, Texas; two stepdaughters, Courtney (Chris) Stevens of Dallas, Texas, and Sara Strickland of Carlsbad, New Mexico; sisters, Jini Johnson of Bakersfield, California, Carol (Duane) Anderson of Bakersfield, California; brothers, Jeff (Stephanie) Vendsel, of Castro Valley, California, and Earl (Monica) Vendsel of Bakersfield, California; and two grandsons and three granddaughters.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Columbia Funeral Home; interment was on July 1 in Columbia Memorial Gardens, Scappoose, Oregon.
What’s your fondest memory of Walter "Walt"?
What’s a lesson you learned from Walter "Walt"?
Share a story where Walter "Walt"'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Walter "Walt" you’ll never forget.
How did Walter "Walt" make you smile?
