Gordon L. Wenger

Gordon L. Wenger,83, of Battle Creek, passed away on Friday, March 20, 2020 at Bickford Cottage in Battle Creek surrounded by his loving family.

Gordon was born on Sunday, 12:07 pm, June 7, 1936 at Nichols Hospital in Battle Creek to Chester A. and Vira M. (Young) Wenger. He was baptized May 23, 1937 at First Congregational Church in Battle Creek.

Gordon’s family included two brothers; Chester A. Wenger Jr. (deceased 1923), Eugene W. Wenger (deceased 2006) and one sister, Joyce E. Steinman (deceased 1996). In 1941 the family moved to North 27th Street, Battle Creek and in 1953 moved to the family homestead on North 26th Street, Battle Creek.

Gordon entered kindergarten at Prairieview Elementary School, 1941, completing his formative education in the Lakeview School System, he graduated in 1954. Prior to entering the military service, he worked at Dare Products Inc., Springfield, Michigan and then managed the Dare Products facility in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

Being subject to the military draft, he enlisted in the US Navy, September 9, 1954. His first two years of naval service was aboard the U.S.S. Rockbridge (APA-228), the ship’s home port Norfolk, Virginia. The ship was stationed at sea in the Mediterranean Sea during the Suez Canal Crisis, 1955-1956. He was assigned to the ship’s Engineering Office as a personnel man assisting the ship’s Chief Engineer. The second two years of his four- year enlistment was served at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Illinois. At the Center, he was in charge of the personnel office of the Base Electricity and Electronics Service School. He was honorably discharged from service August 3, 1958.

Following military separation, Gordon enrolled in undergraduate studies at Western Michigan University (WMU), Kalamazoo, graduating 1962, with a Bachelor of Science Degree majoring in geography/geology, natural and social sciences and education. He continued graduate studies toward advanced degrees at WMU; California State University-Fullerton, California State University-Los Angeles and University of California Los Angeles. Following graduation from WMU he joined the teaching staff in the Norwalk-LaMirada School District, LaMirada, California. (In 1965 Gordon took a sabbatical leave from teaching to participate in professional studies and training at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Educational Programs Division, Washington DC. In this capacity he was an educational consultant to the State’s Departments of Education for the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah. He directed and participated in aerospace education workshops through the five States’ Department of Education, focusing on aerospace, physical and biological sciences in intermediate schools, high schools and junior colleges. The programs were conducted at principal Universities in the five states. He was a guest speaker at many public programs presenting current developments in technology in aeronautics and space flight; all at the peak of this Country’s space program in preparation for man’s flight to the Moon.

In 1965, Gordon left the NASA to serve on the Laboratory Director’s Staff, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology (CIT), Pasadena, California. While at JPL/CIT, he received specialized professional management training to advance his sk ills and knowledge in management. After completing the course of study, he assumed the position of Office Manager, directing the Public Educational Services/Public Affairs program staff.

Between 1965 and 1972 at JPL, he established and expanded public educational/public affairs programs and incorporated several National exemplary and entrepreneurial programs with the U.S. Office of Education. He directed staff in activities of visitor tours, speaker’s bureau, publications development, publications mail service, display development and fabrication (he held innovative design patents for displays), and development of displays in the JPL Visitor Center/Museum. He assisted in the facilitation of instructional materials for astronaut training for the Lunar Landings. He was recognized for establishing several exemplary programs, among them are: training school counselors in California (US Department of Education, Ancillary Services), visiting Planetary Director’s Program, and Student Scientist Program. He Co-Chaired the Southwestern, United States Youth Science Congress, 1968-69 and 1969-1970 (Hawaii): and Co-Chaired the Southern California Industry Education Council, Student Awards Program (1968), He Co-Chaired two California Museum of Science and Industry NASA/JPL/CMSI sponsored Apollo launch viewings.

In 1972, Gordon became a faculty member of Oklahoma State University as an educational consultant. He was assigned Assistant Director of the Langley/NASA Visitor’s Center, Langley, Virginia. Later that year he received a civil service commission as a specialist with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Region IV, Battle Creek Federal Center. In 1994 he retired from the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA), Region V. During his tenure with FEMA, he served as Federal Liaison to the governor’s staffs of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. In the 1970’s he coordinated Federal Programs to the five Great Lakes States for the reconstitution of government following nuclear attack upon the United States of America.

On several occasions, Gordon was assigned National emergency responsibilities following National disasters: the Energy Crisis-Oil Embargo, 1972-73; Mississippi River Flood, 1973; Lake Erie Flood, 1974; Winter Blizzard, 1975; Easter Sunday Tornadoes, 1976; Loma Prieta Earthquake, 1989; and the Mid-West Flood, 1993.

Following the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Accident (1979), Gordon became directly involved in emergency planning for state and local governments to mitigate the effects of commercial nuclear power plant accidents. He was Chairman of the Federal Region V, Regional Advisory Committee for nuclear power plants in the five Great Lakes States. Prior to his retirement he was Technical Advisor and Federal Liaison to the Ohio Governor’s Radiological Emergency Response and Planning Staff.

During retirement, Gordon and his wife, Elaine, traveled through the South Pacific Ocean, Caribbean, and the Mediterranean Sea, Eastern Europe and Africa. During the 2000’s they spent many months in Switzerland at their friend’s chalet in Faulensee.

Gordon and Elaine resided at their residence in Ceresco, Michigan, where he enjoyed experimental agriculture, raising Angus cattle, gardening, woodworking, cooking, fishing, hunting, camping, international travel, and “G” gauge railroading.

He is survived by his wife Elaine (Smith), sons, Gordon, Steven and Scott: grandchildren, Nicole Stager, Brooke Wenger and Andrew Wenger.

Per Gordon’s request, cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 2838 Capital Ave., SW, Battle Creek, Michigan 49015. Please visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com to visit the on line obituary, sign the on line guest book or to leave the family condolences.