Obituary of Wendell Bailey

Wendell Bailey was born on June 7, 1944 in Goshen, Indiana. Wendell's childhood revolved around the family farm - helping with fieldwork, feeding geese, driving tractor, playing with siblings and friends, and learning from his parents the value of good, honest work. As a college student, during the height of the civil rights movement, Wendell volunteered with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1965 as part of a voter registration drive in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. As a white person supporting the cause of desegregation, Wendell was imprisoned several times. As a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, he travelled to Poland in 1968 to perform alternative service with Brethren Voluntary Service. In 1972 Wendell accepted the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ, it changed his life forever. In every aspect of his life he embodied being the hands, feet and mouth of Christ to people around him, 1 Corinthians 12 speaks of how this is possible. He loved teaching Sunday school at Harvest Community Church (formerly Zion Chapel). He and Bonnie attended there until their move to Ontario. In 1973 Wendell married Bonnie Mierau and together they raised three daughters. He expressed encouragement and affection all the time. He was a very loving husband and father. Wendell taught in a one-room Amish schoolhouse for 23 years (grades 1 to 8) - many students and parents in the Amish community became an intimate part of Wendell's life. During countless softball games outside the schoolhouse, Wendell's fun-loving and encouraging presence was unforgettable. Wendell operated a duck farm for many years - family and friends who worked with Wendell saw his uncanny ability to turn the shovelling of duck manure into a memorable experience (mostly because Wendell made work times into times for storytelling, learning, and fun). Over the years, he was also known to keep pigs, horses, cows, and chickens. Wendell loved telling stories and listening to others' stories. He seemed to have a steel-trap memory. He often supplemented dinner conversations by going to the bookshelf to select an encyclopedia about the topic at hand. He welcomed the chance to meet new people, learn about the world, and pull jokes out of his sleeve. When he became a grandfather, Wendell was always ready to run, play, sing, and horse around. Wendell nurtured a warm relationship with each grandchild. In 2006 Wendell and Bonnie moved to Waterloo. In the last few years, Wendell became a dedicated driver and a "here-let-me-carry-that-for-you" fixture at Baileys Local Foods. He was also a regular and charismatic volunteer at the Speak English Café (Working Centre). During the last three months, Wendell's recovery from heart bypass surgery was complicated by increasing bone pain, which was eventually diagnosed as bone cancer originating in the prostate. Wendell died at home on April 28, 2012 at the age of 67. Wendell is survived by his wife Bonnie (Mierau) Bailey of Waterloo; four siblings Max Bailey (wife Judith) of Seattle (Washington), Lowell Bailey (wife Joan) of Goshen, Ellen Weaver (husband Roger) of Goshen, and Woody Bailey (wife Bonnie Sue) of Goshen; three daughters Nina Bailey-Dick (husband Matthew) of Waterloo, Sonya Kesler (husband Andrew) of Goshen, and Greta Owens (husband Jeremy) of Dalton (Georgia); eight grandchildren Reuben, Bailey, Saloma, Foster, Mona, Ezra, Oliver and Silas. Wendell was predeceased by his father Hubert Bailey and his mother Opal (Kauffman) Bailey. A memorial service will be held at Erb Street Mennonite Church on Wednesday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Plant a tree in his honour.