Obituary of Thomas Allen Wenger

Thomas (Tom) Allen Wenger, 63, of Wilton, Iowa, passed away on February 13, 2017 at the Hospice House of Mercy in Cedar Rapids after a long and valiant battle with cancer. Cremation Rites have been facilitated by the FCS Life Transition and Cremation Center, Located within Muscatine Memorial Park Cemetery. Funeral service will be held at Wittich-Lewis Funeral Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Muscatine on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 10:00 A.M., with Pastor Luke McCoy of Antioch Christian Church, Cedar Rapids, officiating. Private burial will follow at the family plot at the North Hill Cemetery, in Wayland, Iowa, amongst six generations of relatives. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, February 17, 2017 from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Tom was born in Muscatine, Iowa to Thomas Dean and Margaret Ann (Wolters) Wenger on January 9th, 1954. He graduated from Muscatine High School in 1972, and in 1999 was inducted into the MHS hall of fame for accomplishments in swimming. He studied engineering at University of Missouri-Rolla and the University of Iowa. In 1976, he married his wife of 7 years, Julie (Ryan) Walwer of Clinton, IA, and their son, Jason Christopher Wenger, was born in 1979. Tom worked as a millwright for North Star Steel of Wilton for 10 years and Alcoa Bettendorf Works for 24 years. Tom continued to swim competitively through college and his adult life. He participated in team Triathlon events, winning two years running. On August 5, 1988, Tom swam the English Channel, crossing from England to France in 10 hrs and 20 min. He also competed in trapshooting, achieving the maximum possible handicap of 27 yards. He enjoyed sailing, fishing, competing in iRacing, spectating every form of motorsport, hockey and baseball, and lemon meringue pie. In retirement, Tom rode his Harley-Davidson to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally several years. He travelled to Belgium and Bahrain, to watch World Endurance Championship auto races, and enjoyed working on a 1976 Plymouth Duster project car. He invested his time loving on his grandkids and teaching them about hockey and baseball. He also enjoyed spending time with his many wonderful friends. Tom is survived by his mother Margaret Wenger of Muscatine, his sister Karen (Jim) Macon of West Des Moines, sister Susan (Steve) Roelle of Muscatine, his brother Jeff Wenger of Iowa, his son Jason (Tori) Wenger, and grandchildren Donavin, Lauren, and Elias Wenger, all of Cedar Rapids. He is preceded in death by his father, Thomas Dean Wenger, granddaughter Amelia Grace Wenger, and beloved cats, Boscoe and Lucille. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for the care they gave Tom and for giving us so much time with him. Online condolances may also be left at http://lewisfuneralhomes.com/.