Robert Edward Wente Sr., 80, of Festus died Dec. 15, 2022, at his home. Mr. Wente was a retired engineer for the former St. Louis Ship Company and ADM and was a stockholder in the Folgers coffee company. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing, model trucks, gardening, watching The Young and the Restless and spending time with his dogs. Born March 5, 1942, in East St. Louis, Ill., he was the son of the late Alice (Koskie) and Harold Wente.
He is survived by his wife: Cheryl (Moore) Wente; four daughters: Kathleen Kramer of Phoenix, Ariz., Cynthia (Kevin) Wilson of Desloge, Traci (William) Roth of French Village and Julie (Matthew) Gauch of Festus; a son: Robert E. (Lorena) Wente Jr. of Glen Carbon, Ill.; a brother: Thomas (Nancy) Wente of Collinsville, Ill.; a daughter-in-law: Patricia Wente of Waterloo, Ill.; 21 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son: Scott Wente; a sister: Marcia Wente Powell; and a brother: James Palovich.
Visitation is scheduled from 10 a.m. until a funeral service at noon Saturday, Dec. 31, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main, in Festus, officiated by Chaplain Mark McMullin. Burial is in Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.