December 9, 1958 – March 3, 2024

Wendell Ziemer Gunnink, age 65, passed away from complications of pneumonia on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at Southview Living Center in Gibbon, Minnesota. A Celebration of Life was held Saturday, April 27, at Cleveland Church of Christ. Burial was at Hillside Cemetery, Le Sueur, Minn.

Wendell Wesley Ziemer was born December 9, 1958, to Wesley and Arlene (Linnell) Ziemer in Minneapolis. Wendell was born with cerebral palsy. Throughout his childhood, he received care and education at a variety of locations. In his youth, he attended Lakeview School in Worthington, Minn., and received foster care by John and Josephine Gunnink in Leota, Minn. For his high school years, he lived at Camilia Rose group home in Coon Rapids and graduated from Blaine High School in 1979. After high school, he worked at RISE Inc. in Spring Lake Park and continued to reside at Camilia Rose where he met the love of his life, Yvonne Marie Yunker, whom he married on Valentine’s Day in 1987.  

In 1998, Wendell and Yvonne moved to Fairmont, Minn., and both worked at STEP  in Blue Earth. Wendell’s occupations involved office related tasks. When not working, Wendell immensely enjoyed music, listening and shopping for the latest CDs, CD collections, and DVD’s. He also enjoyed watching movies and television, taking trips to the theatre to watch plays and movies and also taking trips, going to a casino, and swimming. BUT, most of all, he loved spending time with family and friends. He will be dearly missed by all who are blessed to have known him.

Left to cherish his memory are his mother, Arlene (Chuck) Ziemer- Palmquist; sisters, Valerie Sampson, Vanessa (Jeff) Jaster, and Vivienne (Randy) Palmquist; close friends Marlene Hofkamp and Yvonne Sloot – Rands and the whole Sloot family; aunts and uncles, one niece, many nephews, and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Wesley Ziemer; foster parents, John and Josephine Gunnink; brother-in-law, Jim Sampson; and nephew, Talon Jaycox.