Melissa ‘Missie’ Mae Wendt, was born on June 15, 1958, at Alliance, Nebraska, to Kenneth and Georgia (Petersen) Jenkins. She passed away in Grand Island, Nebraska, on May 14, 2026, at the age of 67.
Missie grew up in Mullen, Nebraska, and graduated from Mullen High School. She moved to Lincoln where she operated a daycare.
On Dec, 29, 2005, Missie married Greg Wendt at Grand Island, Nebraska. They made their home in Doniphan, where Missie worked at the Bank of Doniphan and then Equitable Bank.
Missie was an avid NASCAR fan, loved the horse races and her animals.
Missie is preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Georgia Jenkins and sister, Debbie Lewis.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Gregory Wendt of Doniphan; children, Ashlee Degarmo (friend, Jordan Evans) of Lincoln and Lucas (Bianca) Richards of Dodge City, Kan.; 5 grandchildren, Aevan Richards, Porter Degarmo, Charlie Degarmo, LJ Richards and Noah Richards; brother, George (Lora) Jenkins of Mullen; sister, Dorri (Dan) Newmeyer of Glen Rock, Wyo.; and brother-in-law, Tom Lewis of Albuquerque, N.M. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Sue (Monte) Obermeier of Giltner, Mary Jane (Jerry) Robertshaw of Marquette, Colleen (Doug) Happold of Doniphan, Carol (Darrell) Burrows of Columbus and Peggy (Brian) Quandt of Nevada, Iowa, many nieces and nephews and other family members and friends and her beloved dog, Kadie.
A memorial service was held May 19, 2026, at St. Jospeh’s Catholic Church in Giltner. Rev. Mark Seiker officiated.
Memorials may be made in care of the family to be determined at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary. com.