Charlie Wendel, 81, of Grinnell, passed away on September 19, 2018, at his home of natural causes. A funeral service has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 24th, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Rev. Rick Magstadt, Grace Community Church, officiating. Pallbearers will be Andy Albers, Todd Chrites, David Ellis, Jeremy and Rory Jacobs, and Andy Terlouw. Burial will be in Westfield Cemetery, southwest of Grinnell. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, at the Smith Funeral Home with the family present from 4:00 to 6:00 Sunday afternoon. Memorial contributions may be directed to Grace Community Church in Grinnell. Charlie was born on August 3, 1937, in Red Bluff, Arkansas, the son of Robert Lee and Ruth Elizabeth Beck Wendel. He lived and attended school in Jefferson City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas. He later completed HVAC training through the University of Kansas Medical Center. On March 2, 1973, he was united in marriage with Catherine Ann Determan, at Pidgerview Baptist Church in Olathe, Kansas. The couple lived in the Kansas City area where he was employed as a supervisor in the HVAC Department at University of Kansas Medical Center. He retired on August 1, 1999. The couple moved to Grinnell in 2002. Charlie was an active member of Grace Community Church and served on the church board. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and The Shriners. He was a volunteer at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. He enjoyed fishing, solving crossword puzzles, playing solitaire, and traveling. He was a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the KU Jayhawks basketball team. His times shared with his family were his happiest memories. Survivors include his son, Shawn Wendel of Cedar Falls; and three children from a previous marriage, Mark, Charlotte and Kevin Wendel. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Catherine in 2016; his brother, Wayne Wendel; a half-brother, Richard Wendel; and a step-brother and step-sister, Clarence and Mary Josephine Wonsetler.