Plymouth, WI – A hometown favorite, Phyllis Wendt celebrated her 100th birthday this week with friends and family. For many, many years Phyllis was a trusted crossing guard in the community of West Bend, Wi. “I loved it,” she said. “The kids were very, very polite.”
Phyllis started as a crossing guard on the corner of Main and Vine Street. She eventually went to Seventh and Decorah. “When mom turned 90 the police presented her with a dozen yellow roses on her corner and they sang Happy Birthday over the squad speakers,” said Marsha Weber, one of Phyllis’s three children. “She always said she had the most dangerous corner but the nicest kids.”
Phyllis has had quite the life. She frequently entered her bakery at the Washington County Fair and won ribbons for her fudge, chocolate chip cookies, sour cream coffee cake, and breadsticks. “She has at least four shoeboxes full of ribbons,” said Weber.
Born on a farm in Juneau, Phyllis said she used to do calisthenics before milking the cows and that’s how she kept her girlish figure. “She grew up on a farm and had 97 first cousins,” said Weber. “She’s related to most of Dodge County.”
Phillis held a variety of jobs including working at Libby’s in Jackson, Amity Leather, and her favorite job as crossing guard in West Bend.
She was a dedicated listener to WBKV’s morning show with Bob Bonenfant and a frequent traveler on his gambling bus trips. “Mom, Kenny, and I never drank,” said Weber. “In the morning people would say, ‘Do you remember what you did last night?’ … if not, go ask Phyllis, she’ll tell ya.”
Phyllis moved out of the University Apartments several years ago and has been living up in Plymouth.
Her family helped celebrate her birthday with balloons, burgers, brats, and ice cream cake with a picture of GG in her prime.
As the guest of honor, she was rather quiet. Her family said she’s having some memory issues but overall is doing well.
“Remember Judy,” yelled her daughter. Phyllis stared and then looked away at her family and said dryly, “I suppose my picture is going to be in the paper tomorrow.”
Happy Birthday Phyllis.
Below is a story after Phyllis had a close call following a 2-vehicle crash on her corner at Decorah and Seventh Avenue.
Sept. 7, 2017 – West Bend, WI – Stopped in to visit Phyllis Wendt, 92, today to see how she was doing following the two-vehicle accident on her corner Wednesday morning.
Phyllis dove out of the way after two vehicles collided and veered over the curb and onto the grass.
West Bend Police “determined a 35-year-old male driver was southbound on S. Seventh Avenue and stopped for the stop sign at W. Decorah Road.
The male proceeded from his stop and struck a vehicle eastbound on W. Decorah Road. The vehicle that was struck was driven by a 36-year-old female from West Bend. There were no injuries to the drivers or occupants of the vehicles that collided.
The investigating officer issued the 35-year-old male a citation for Failure to Yield Right of Way.
Phyllis went to the doctor with a back injury. He told her to take it easy. She’s putting cold compresses on her back.
We spent about 30 minutes reading everybody’s nice notes and well wishes. Phyllis laughed at the note from the woman who said she was the best babysitter and now her son is 39 years old.
Phyllis said the intersection of Seventh and Decorah is pretty dicey, and she reminded motorists to slow down.
Then Phyllis went and got a big tri-fold poster that documented her years as a crossing guard. One photo showed a police officer presenting Phyllis with a cake celebrating her 80th birthday.
Phyllis wants to tell everybody “Thank you” for the prayers and well wishes.