Christi Wenzel

Christi Lee Wenzel, age 69, passed away Saturday, October 15, 2022, at Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Christi was born July 24, 1953, in Des Moines, Iowa to Christopher and LaVenna (Campbell) Conn. She graduated from North High School in 1970. Christi worked for numerous insurance companies. She started her own take and bake company “Moma C’s” where she combined her love of cooking and her huge heart of giving. She was the caterer for the family – feeding everyone from Thanksgivings to wedding receptions. Christi began fundraising for the Mount Ayr school district to make sure all students had milk money. She started a kids’ fishing tournament at Sun Valley Lake to encourage residents to come together – providing toys and fishing gear to all who came. It started with about 10 kids in 2013 and was up to 100 this last year. She was also very involved in the American Legion Auxiliary.

Love, dedication, and devotion came easily for Christi. She was fiercely passionate about her family. She shared a special close bond with her son, Ritchie, and her grandkids were her world. She was selfless and giving to everyone. Christie had a huge heart and a laugh to match. She was always there for you and gave the best advice, even if it was hard to hear sometimes, it came across with love. She will be greatly missed by everyone, especially her family, who loved her dearly.

She is survived by her husband of over 30 years, Wayne; son, Ritchie (Mindy Clem) Hall; stepchildren, Chrissy (Mark) Lehman and Cameron (Elisabeth) Wenzel; grandchildren, Brittany, Tyler, Riley, Emily, Connor and Maddie and bonus grandchildren, Emily (Jonathan) and Payton; one great-granddaughter, Vivian and bonus great-granddaughter, Camila; brothers, Bud, Richard “Dick”, and James Van Houten; many nieces, nephews, other loving family members, and her dog, Lily.

Christi was preceded in death by her parents, and numerous siblings.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, October 24, 2022, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 25, 2022, also at Hamilton’s. A private family burial will take place at Iowa Veterans Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be used towards the many causes Christi was devoted to.

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