Walter Howard Wendland, Jr. died peacefully at home on October 8, 2015. He was 78 years old. Walt was born in Purdy, Missouri on July 12, 1937 to Walter Sr. and Nancy (Saunders) Wendland. He moved with his family to Richland in 1952 and served in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Richland High School in 1955. He was a member of the Richland Police Department for 21 years. After retiring, he started his own business, Wendland’s Photography. Walt was a faithful member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Richland.

Born in Purdy, Missouri in 1937 at the Stone’s Prairie Parish parsonage, family lore has it that Walt was so small that he was placed in a dresser drawer. He grew and thrived as the family eventually moved to Farley, Missouri and Murdock, Nebraska where he spent summers baling hay, eating steak, and creating lasting friendships.

During his teen years, his family relocated to Richland, Washington when his father became pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church. He enrolled at Col. High and became a Bomber.

After graduating with the Class of 1955, Walt enlisted in the Navy and served on two aircraft carriers that traveled to Japan, the Philippines, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He had many adventures and made dear, lifelong friends. 

Walt liked to say that “he got a good one” when he met and married the love of his life, Ginny Weyerts. On their first date, Walt and Ginny went to Ray’s Tahitian Room for tea, and Walt ordered coffee. They dated for a little less than a year and were married on May 23, 1959.

His pride and joy were his children. Kenny was born in July 1960, Annie in August 1962 and Nancy in November 1963. Favorite family memories include: tickle fights, camping, go-carting, playing in the padded cell at the police station, target shooting, lighting off smoke bombs from Warshall’s & firecrackers confiscated from unknown juveniles, and going out to eat—especially at the Tri-Cities first McDonald’s after helping to clean the church on Friday nights.

In 1960, Walt joined the Richland Police Department. He was a traffic officer, the first youth guidance officer, a detective, and a detective sergeant. He helped in many ways, but his passion and calling was to help children—not just those in abusive homes, but also the teens that he arrested. He was famous for arresting juveniles and then taking them out for ice cream. He always said that they were basically good kids who just got in with the wrong crowd. Walt had a gift for seeing the humanity in every person.

He was also known for his practical jokes, like “forgetting” his wallet when the check came; pulling over his kids’ friends with his squad car; “forgetting” the keys to his handcuffs; and more antics than we’re allowed to mention here… He loved to make people laugh with his hysterical police department stories!

During his time on the force, Walt had the privilege of working with the Secret Service to protect Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford when they came to the Tri-cities for speaking engagements. President Ford’s bodyguard even dined at Walt’s house.

After serving with the RPD for 21 years, Walt retired and started his own photography business. Together, Walt and Ginny photographed over 900 weddings and countless senior, family, and reunion pictures. He had an artist’s eye for spotting great scenery to shoot and enjoyed displaying and selling his artwork.

Even though Walt had two successful careers, a faithful wife, 3 healthy children and many grandchildren, he considered his faith in Jesus to be his greatest gift in life. He faithfully served at Redeemer Lutheran Church for 63 years serving at various times as an elder, custodian, and youth leader. (It was well known by the children at Redeemer that Walt always carried plenty of Juicy Fruit gum and was generous in sharing it!) He also had a beautiful bass voice and sang in the choir beginning when he was 15 years old until about a week before his death.

He was cherished by his family; adored by his friends; appreciated by his community and loved by God. He will be missed.

Walt is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Ginny Wendland; their son, Ken & daughter-in-law, Jacque; daughter, Annie (Nash) & son-in-law, Bob; and daughter, Nancy (Feehrer) & son-in-law, John. He is also survived by: grandchildren, Hayley Black; Kyle, Marcus, & Sharon Nash; Noe Lopez; Derek, Nate, Tim & Izzie Feehrer; great granddaughter, Ellisa Nash; sister, Betty & husband, Bob George; sister- and brother-in-law, Lois & Larry Harrold; and many nieces and nephews. Walt considered many people “family” without checking DNA. His “adoptive” extended family is too numerous to list. You know who you are and we do too. During the last 10 months of Walt’s life, many caregivers became part of his loving circle of friends. They were greatly appreciated by both Walt and Ginny. Walt was preceded in death by his father and mother, Reverend Walter Wendland, Sr. and Nancy (Saunders) Wendland.

A memorial celebration of Walt’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 16^th at Redeemer Lutheran Church 520 Thayer Drive, Richland, Washington. (A family graveside service will be held earlier at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland.)

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church, “Walter Wendland Choir Memorial” and sent to 520 Thayer Drive, Richland, WA 99352.