Frank Joseph Wenzke, M.D.

Wenzke, Frank Joseph, M.D., age 79, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at Kettering Medical Center on Sunday, October 19, 2025, after a brief illness. 

Frank was born in Dayton, Ohio, on February 13, 1946, the fourth of eleven children, to Frank and Rita Wenzke. Growing up with ten siblings, two cousins, and an aunt all under the same roof, the family home in Oakwood was a bustling hive of activity where friends and family were always welcome. Frank loved to tell stories of those early days and the colorful adventures of his siblings, cousins, and their friends. 

He loved math, science, history, photography and books of all kinds. He graduated from the University of Dayton, where he met his future wife, Kathleen, during a biology lab in Sherman Hall. He went on to medical school at Northwestern and became a cardiologist, eventually returning to Kettering, Ohio, where he would practice medicine for 47 years. 

Frank and Kathleen married in 1970, raising seven children in Centerville. A gifted and enthusiastic teacher, he tackled innumerable word problems and never failed to deduce when two approaching trains would meet. He loved tools and fixing things, building a family picnic table and a massive six-child swing set. He spent countless hours on the sidelines of soccer fields near and far, Nikon shutters whirring and zoom lenses zooming. 

He cultivated traditions and always encouraged family gatherings. His children will forever treasure his annual readings of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”. He loved to travel with his wife and children, easily spotted with his massive Nikon equipment bundle and warm smile. 

Frank never met a bookstore that wasn’t worth a stop. When he read about personal computers in the early 1980s, he bought one and joined the Apple Dayton club to learn programming. His love of computers (and upgrading them!) would last his whole life.

 A devout Catholic, Frank dedicated his life to helping others, whether in the workplace or in his personal life. You could find him most days in his office on E. Stroop Road, seeing patients and chatting it up with his beloved cardiology staff. His wealth of knowledge lives on in the countless physicians, nurses and staff he loved to teach and learn from each day. He took special pride in the veterans under his care, fascinated by their stories and always humbled by their tales of sacrifice.

 After work, you’d likely find him surrounded by camera equipment and computers, happily digitizing the massive multi-generational Wenzke family photo archive or poring over his latest nature shots. His flashlight collection is museum-worthy, and they never did manufacture a battery type that he didn’t have in stock. Snyder’s pretzels may have lost its best customer, but Frank’s love of chocolate ice cream hasn’t skipped any generations. You’d see his eyes light up at a few bars of an Elvis tune, or if his channel surfing landed on a Clint Eastwood classic.

He leaves behind 23 grandchildren, having showered them for years with silly jokes, funny stories, and exclusive Grandpa-quality hugs. Never afraid of a dirty shirt, he was an enthusiastic baby-burper and an unparalleled “Baby Whisperer”. His love of teaching continued as a grandparent, always ready with encouragement and advice (and generous with his photography tips!) 

He will be missed by many, his memory treasured by all. He was always happiest when surrounded by the many he loved and who loved him in return. 

Frank is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Kathleen; children, Jennifer Keller (John), David (Robyn), Daniel (Alexandra), Susan Anderson (Joshua), Mary Smith (Anton), Jeffrey (Jennifer) and Steven. Grandchildren, Simon and Ethan Keller; Stefan, Christoph, Nicklaus and Giselle Wenzke; Victoria, Joseph and Charlotte Wenzke; Augusta, Soren, Elise, Linus, Celeste and Josephine Anderson; Veronica, Alexa, Michaela and Xavier Smith; Audrey, Jackson, Noah and Sabrina Wenzke. Siblings, Jerome (Nancy), James (Ellen), Janet Pettry (James), Robert (Ruth), Edward (Joyce), Stephen (Gillian), and Teresa; and his cousins Thomas (Deborah) and William (Carla) Thornton. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Frank E. and Rita (Moylan); his brother, Eugene; and his sisters Marilyn Nickels and Margaret. 

Family will receive friends Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 5-8 pm. in the WESTBROCK FUNERAL HOME-KETTERING, 5980 Bigger Road. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Church of the Incarnation, Centerville, on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 11 am. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Frank’s memory may be made to the Dayton Foodbank at thefoodbankdayton.org.