Dear Fellow Musicians -
It is with a heavy heart that I let you know that Wendell Iverson passed away early this morning at the age of 87. He had been at Grandview in the Memory Care since the 17th of April and was doing really well in his new surroundings. He was eating with 2 other men, and engaged, in his 'Wendell way', and, of course, swooning all the ladies and the nurses with his yodeling! He then started retaining fluid and was having difficulty getting a full breath. He had been in bed with no food or water pretty much since Saturday, and they put him on oxygen. I went to go see him on Monday and it was obvious his body wasn't going to hold out much longer. His heart was tired. It did its work for 87 years, and that's even after a 2009 cardiac arrest where he died and they brought him back to life! He was obviously not done living yet!
I went to Grandview to see Katie and Wendell on Monday. When I talked to Wendell, he was a little alert and would crack open an eye every now and then. He opened his eyes a bit for two times in particular that I remember. Once, when I told him that he had picked a winner for his wife, and how much she loved him. That she was sitting by his side, stroking his arm, just being there because she wanted to be by him The second time was when I told him that he had the best ear - he could hear one note off in a complex chord better than anyone I know. That is the truth! He had an amazing ear!
Wendell had a Masters in Vocal Performance and Education, and he taught for a number of years. He has one son who lives in Denver. Eventually Wendell went on to teach Real Estate, back when you went to school to get your license. Katie and Wendell met in 1989 when she joined the chorus in Denver where Wendell was already a member. It must have been love at first (or second?) sight! Their choir director said, 'The Tenors woo them, but the Basses take the girl home!' (Not sure if Katie had her eyes on a Tenor first, but Wendell was the clear winner!) They got married in 1993; they just celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary. They were involved in music in Denver, and, great for us all, eventually at The Grand. They were a part of many musicals, music events and the Grand Singers. Wendell sang in the Chorale along with Katie. They loved taking cruises together - they did many of those!
Katie has been caring for Wendell for some time now, even while going through her own illness. It was hard for her to make the decision to put Wendell into Memory care, but it turned out to be a blessing. He was there long enough for the staff to see what a wonderful man he was and for Katie to see the excellent care he was getting, but not so long that he struggled. The amount of love that the two of them had for each other was so beautiful. Watching Katie nurture and care for Wendell, shield him as needed, and go through the process of bringing him into Grandview, was something truly special. They have had good years together, and while she might have seen this day coming over the past number of days, it makes it no less difficult for Katie to handle or accept. She has lost half her heart, so we need to join together to help her through this difficult time. Here is Katie's address:
Katie Iverson
19540 N. Wessex Dr.
Surprise 85387
Below is a picture of the two of them from our Memories concert.
Pamela |