Roberta “Bobbie” (Parker) Wenzel, age 81 passed away on November 20, 2024. Like she lived, she died: fiercely and determined. Born on December 13, 1942, Bobbie was the eldest of four children of Douglas and Margaret (Whitcomb) Parker. She was a lifelong resident of Allegan until a recent move to Kalamazoo.
Bobbie was creative and artistic since childhood. After winning several consecutive years of the bike decorating contest in the Independence Day parade, she was no longer allowed to compete, as the other children did not have a chance against her creations. Well into her final years, she could still describe in detail the dresses and accoutrements she wore as a child. She had flair!
She married Ronald J. Wenzel on June 3, 1961. For 63 years their marriage faced joys and triumphs, unthinkable loss, professional highs and lows, and the greatest challenge for any couple – wallpapering together. Through it all they endured.
Their children, Pamela Ann and the late Kelly James were their purpose and their pride. Bobbie’s creative endeavors continued as she fulfilled her lifelong dream of being a mother and homemaker. She designed and sewed Pam’s and Kelly’s Halloween and Christmas Pageant costumes, baked and decorated their amazing birthday cakes and made all celebrations beautiful and memorable.
In 1974, Ron and Bobbie purchased the John Askins home in Allegan’s historic district, after it had a fire and was abandoned. Only the third owners of the home built in the 1830s, the couple took the interior down to the studs and renovated it with updates, while maintaining many of its unique historic features. Bobbie was known for her design and decorating talents, and for her wonderful entertaining. With her mind always reeling, her style was often unconventional, and ahead of her time. For Bobbie, more was more.
Bobbie then converted the home’s carriage house into a gift and antique shop, the Sparrow’s Nest. Eventually, Bobbie expanded the business to painting suites of bedroom furniture and children’s furniture (hand crafted by her father) with pink bows, ribbons and flowers. “Paint a bow and watch it go” she would often say, as Ron set out on the road to sell. Her clients, who knew the business as Designs by Elizabeth, included well known southwest Michigan luminaries, professional athletes and other celebrities. Oprah Winfrey even has one of her pieces.
In 2000, another of Bobbie’s dreams was fulfilled when she became “Nana”. Two-year-old Anya Elizabeth was adopted from Russia by Steve and Pam (Wenzel) Wisner, and became the light of the family. Bobbie thrived in this role playing dress up with her, baking Christmas cookies, teaching her how to make the famed family pie crust, visiting Mackinac Island several times, and so much more.
Bobbie will be missed dearly by her devoted husband, Ron; daughter, Pamela; granddaughter, Anya; brother-in-law, J. Stephen McKeon, deeply cherished nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews; and treasured life-long friends. And for young Ronin and Harper they know “Nana” is now their lipstick-wearing guardian angel.
She is preceded in death by her beloved son, Kelly; brother, Mark Parker; sister, Debbie (Parker) McKeon; sister and brother-in-law, Nancy (Parker) and William Newton; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Carol (Wenzel) and Carl Wiltshire; in-laws Lewis and Anna Wenzel; parents Douglas and Margaret Parker; and her step-mother Ruth Parker.
In accordance with her wishes, Bobbie’s body was donated to WMed for educational purposes.
The family will receive friends at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church located at 110 North Cedar Street, Allegan, Michigan on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. A Memorial Mass will begin at 11:00 a.m., with a luncheon following at the Blessed Sacrament Church Fellowship Hall. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to Centrica Care Navigators (Hospice), 7100 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49009 or St. Jude’s Research Hospital.