Moeller Funeral Home 104 Roosevelt Road Valparaiso, IN  46383 (219) 462-0535

Kosanke Funeral Home 105 East Indiana Avenue Kouts, IN  46347 (219) 766-2224

Wanatah Funeral Chapel 309 North Main Street Wanatah, IN  46390 (219) 733-2313

Angelcrest Cemetery Highway 49 and 600 North Valparaiso, IN  46383 (219) 531-8690

Ethel Luree (Birky) Wengerd, 89, passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2020.  She was born July 17, 1930 in Kouts, IN to Jonas and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Schantz) Birky.  Ethel was the youngest of five children, a brother Harley (Miriam) Birky, and sisters Lila (Wilmer) Good and Alice (Delmar) Nitzsche, and an infant sister. 
Ethel grew up in Kouts, IN on her parent’s farm.  She helped with chores around the home.  Ethel enjoyed sports, singing and playing piano.  While working as a secretary at Goshen College, she met her future husband, a student, J. Ivan Wengerd.  After graduation, they were married August 4, 1956 at Kouts, IN. 
The family lived for several years at Bremen, IN where Ivan taught school.  They also lived at Walton and Hobart, IN for one year each.  Due to Ivan’s principal position at South Central Elementary, Union Mills, IN the couple lived in Kouts, IN for many years. 
Ethel is survived by their five children Kathy (Dave) Willink, Elkhart, IN, Ann (Doug) Freyenberger, Kouts, IN, Dave (Sherry) Wengerd, Goshen, IN, Doug Wengerd, Goshen, IN, and Brenda (Brad) Miller, Columbia City, IN.  Ethel enjoyed spending time with family.  She was blessed with grandchildren (15) and great grandchildren (12). 
Ethel was actively involved at Hopewell Mennonite Church, Kouts, IN teaching Sunday school, and singing in musical groups, including the Hopewell Octet.  She also participated in the women’s sewing group.
Ethel enjoyed camping and traveling with Ivan.  Crossword puzzles were a favorite pastime.  Ethel enjoyed watching sports and attending events family members were involved in.  She also performed bookkeeping duties at home. 
Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, J. Ivan Wengerd, her parents, an infant sister, two siblings Harley Birky and Lila Good, and daughter-in-law, Jenny (Roth) Wengerd.  Ethel is survived by a sister, Alice Nitzsche of West Point, NE.
Funeral arrangements were made with Kosanke Funeral Home, Kouts, IN.   A private memorial service will be held Monday, July 6, 2020 at Hopewell Cemetery, Kouts, IN.  Memorial donations, in honor of Ethel, may be made to The American Parkinson’s Association of Staten Island, NY or Hopewell Mennonite Church, Kouts, IN.