Wenzel Steve "Wence" Beagles

WENZEL STEVE “WENCE” BEAGLES Memorial services for longtime Cortez resident Wenzel Steve “Wence” Beagles will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 27 at the Cortez First United Methodist Church. Inurnment will follow at the Cortez Cemetery. Wenzel was born on February 12, 1917 in Silt, Colo., the son of Steve H. and Pearle (Raley) Beagles. He passed away on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at his residence at the age of 90. On April 6, 1945, Wence married Lorraine Stephens. The couple shared 62 loving years of marriage. He affectionately referred to Lorraine as his “Turtle Dove.” Wence was a non-commissioned Officer for the United States Marine Corps. He was a former member of the Moose and Elks Lodges and he was a current member of the Ute Mountain American Legion Post #75. He also served on the Cortez Planning and Zoning Commission. Wence was a Master Carpenter who volunteered his services in the trade. In his spare time he enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling. Anyone who knew Wence could tell you that he didn’t know a stranger. Surviving Wence are his devoted wife, Lorraine Beagles of Cortez; his daughters, Donna R. Case and husband, Danny of Cortez, and Debbie L. Branson and husband, Rodney also of Cortez; and his sister, Bea Mikkelson and husband, Frank of Valejo, Calif. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Justin Watkins and Jessica Miller, Scott Watkins and wife, Shawna, Tim Case, Michelle Simmons and husband, Jerrod, Monica Wrast and husband, Mark, and Chelsea Branson and Terry Boone; his great-grandchildren, Tanner Owen Wrast, Kendall Reece Simmons, Dayten Boone, Savannah Simmons, and Aspen Simmons; his step-mother, Etta Beagles Thomas of Ontario, Ore.; and his half-brothers, Marvin Beagles of Olympia, Wash., Larry Beagles of Ontario, Ore., and Ronald Beagles of also of Ontario, Ore. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his siblings, Ina LeDonne, and Melvin Beagles. Memorial contributions may be made in Wenzel Beagles’ name to Hospice of Montezuma or the American Cancer Society.