Leonard Duane Wertz was born June 14, 1940, and bounded into eternity February 21, 2020.
Born to Richard and Pearl Wertz in Las Animas, Colorado, Len was the youngest of four children. His childhood stories seemed larger than life: seeing electricity come to the McClave area, bareback horse riding, nearly drowning in John Martin Reservoir, 4H and FFA exploits, and meeting President Eisenhower. After graduating from McClave High School, he went on to receive a biology degree with minors in music and horticulture from Colorado State University. He then taught chemistry in the Peace Corps in Ghana, Africa, bringing home tales of eating rat meat.
Upon returning home from Ghana, he swept Ronda Hostetler off her feet and married her on September 23, 1967. They traveled extensively across the USA and enjoyed multiple trips to Israel, Europe, and the UK. Together they raised two boys, Brad and Todd, who went on to marry and bring nine grandchildren into his life. He was a proud “Gramps," interested in praying for and promoting their adventures while watching them grow up to be productive young men and women. He also enjoyed two great-grandchildren who made him smile even when he could no longer pick them up, one of whom prayed with him the day before he passed into eternity.
In 1975, Len started Youth Retreat, a summer discipleship camp in the Rockies designed to teach young people the joy of knowing Jesus through Biblical instruction. He is remembered by many for charging up a mountain trail with Bible under one arm, a poster board under the other, with forty youth following close behind. As a minister in the Dunkard Brethren Church, Len conducted revival meetings all over the United States. Through these, he influenced many and was keen on motivating believers away from the status quo toward robust, faith-filled living.
His unending optimism was grounded in a firm faith in Jesus as his Savior and Lord. His seemingly tireless energy and determination to be productive amazed all who knew him. Len loved life and poured his passion into people. Over the years he was a biology teacher, florist, chemist, sales rep, and finally served as a paraeducator in the Quinter public schools. He enjoyed travel, gardening, floral design, barbershop, studying prophecy, and Youth Retreat, and taught his family to celebrate Christmas wholeheartedly. To Len, no meal was complete without dessert, his favorite part of eating.
On this side of eternity, he left his wife Ronda Wertz of Quinter; sons, Brad (Kirsten) and Todd (Ricki); grandsons Matthias (Cassie, Blaine, Corey, Keegan, Aiden; granddaughters Kimberly, Liberty, Autumn, and Jillian, all of Quinter; great-grandchildren Liam and Lauren Wertz of Quinter; and three siblings: Etta Clayton, Ivan Wertz (Edna, Wanda Lutz (John). He was preceded in death by his parents; Lawrence Clayton (brother-in-law); and granddaughter Elizabeth Wertz.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Sunday, March 1, 2020 at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.
Services will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, March 2, 2020 at Quinter Church of the Brethren, with burial to follow at Baker Township cemetery.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Dunkard Brethren Retreat. Donations to the organization may be sent to Donations made to the organizations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.
Condolences may be left for the family by visiting schmittfuneral.com