Wendell Charles Body was born March 22, 1931, on a farm southwest of Sac City, Iowa. He was the only child of Walter and Caryl (Persinger) Body. He attended kindergarten in Sac City, and one-room country schools through 8th grade. He was 10 when World War II started and 14 when it ended, and the war made a big impression on him. Wendell graduated from high school in Sac City as valedictorian of the class of 1949, and then majored in Agricultural Operations at Iowa State College from 1949 to 1951. He was a state FFA officer for three years and served as state FFA president of Iowa.
   Wendell served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954. He attended Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego, California, and then transferred to radio technician school on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. Later he transferred back to San Diego and completed his Marine Corps service in Quantico, Virginia.
   Wendell entered a farming partnership with his dad in 1954. In addition to field crops, they started raising hogs. The farming operation continued and grew for many years.
   Around this time Wendell started attending a group called Rural Young People (RYP) that organized parties and trips. Somewhere along the way he became aware of and acquainted with a young woman named Beulah Berry. Wendell and Beulah got engaged and then married December 2, 1956, in Sac City. Wendell considered marrying Beulah to be the best thing he ever did. Together they had four children: David, Kenneth, Susan, and Jane.
   Wendell was an innovative and successful farmer, making early use of farm automation and personal computers. He was recognized as a Master Pork Producer in 1964 and in 1969 appeared on the cover of Hog Farm Management magazine.
   Wendell also served the Sac City community. Among other things, he served on the school board, including as president, and was active in the First Christian Church. He was inducted into the inaugural group of the Sac Community High School Hall of Fame in 1992.
   In 2014 Wendell traveled to Washington, D.C. with a group of veterans as part of a Brushy Creek Honor Flight. The group toured memorials dedicated to veterans and returned late the same day to a celebratory welcome home.
   Wendell and Beulah were Iowa State University sports fans and had season tickets for football, and men's and women's basketball for many years. They enjoyed seeing friends they made through ISU games. Wendell and Beulah enjoyed traveling and visited England, Italy, Israel, and Peru, and many places in the US. New York City was a favorite destination. Wendell was also an avid reader with a sizable home library of books acquired from many bookstores over many years.
   Wendell passed away on May 22, 2026, in Sac City, Iowa, at Park View Rehabilitation Center.
   Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Caryl (Persinger) Body; son Kenneth Body; and son-in-law Lawrence Eppink.
   He is survived by his wife Beulah (Berry) Body; children David (Susan Holland) Body, Susan Body, and Jane Eppink; grandchildren: Alexander Body, Benjamin Body, Caitlin (Bobby Tzanetopoulos) Body, Samuel Eppink, Katherine (Zach Comer) Eppink, Michael Eppink, and Elizabeth Eppink; great-grandchildren Henry Comer and James Wendell Body Tzanetopoulos.
   Wendell wrote "I have lived a fortunate life. The things I am proudest of are our children and their families and my wife."

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS please donate to Kids World in Sac City or Loring Healthcare Foundation or the charity of your choice in Wendell’s memory.