Thomas Joseph Wendt, age 86 years, of Kingwood Township, NJ, died peacefully on Thursday, April 15, 2021, at Hunterdon Care Center, Raritan Township, NJ.

Born on September 14, 1934 in Jersey City, NJ, son of the late George and Catherine Emily Fischer Wendt, Tom was raised in Jersey City along with his six siblings. Moving to Kingwood in 1962, he resided on his farm for the rest of his life.

A truck driver for many years, Tom’s primary job was not so much a job as it was a lifestyle, that of a ‘gentleman farmer’. The proprietor of T. Wendt Farm, he tended to cows, goats, chickens and many other forms of livestock, as well as growing hay. He was involved in several animal auctions, the Hackettstown Animal Auction being his favorite where he was certified to both buy and sell livestock and to help coordinate the sales at the auction. Many friendships were made at the auctions over the years and his word was well respected.

The farm was a special place over the years for the rest of Tom’s family as well, as it was quite a change from the hustle and bustle of Jersey City. It was a place where his children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews spent time laughing, learning, and growing. It was where Tom and his beloved wife, Henrietta, loved to watch both the sunrise and the sunset; sadly, Henrietta died in 1990 and not a day went by where Tom did not remember her with love.

To know Tom is to know he was a simple man who appreciated the solitude that nature gives. In addition to tending the farm, he enjoyed listening to the local radio station, WDVR, as well as watching WWE wrestling with family. He was also known to frequent a flea market or two, where he appreciated the many treasures hidden among the vendors, and also was well known as the proud owner of many farm trucks.

The writer Kevin Patterson once wrote, “Solitude sharpens awareness of small pleasures otherwise lost.” Tom leaves a legacy of showing others that the little things in life are truly the most important, and to never be too busy to forget to stop and smell the flowers or pet a goat!

In addition to his parents and Henrietta, Tom was preceded in death by his siblings, Dorothy Flynn, Georgiana Wendt, Harold Wendt, Barbara Dammann, George Wendt, and Donald Wendt.

Surviving are his daughters, Catherine Cobb and MaryAnn Larsen; his grandchildren, Paul Crook, Travis Cobb, Jacqueline Larsen, Ronald Larsen, Jr., and Jennifer Larsen; his step children, William, Neil and Daniel Brinkerhoff and Bonnie Read; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family; and many dear friends.

Tom will lie in repose on Monday, April 26, 2021 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Life celebration services officiated by Certified Life Celebrant D.J. Wright will take place at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home and to which all are welcome.

Realizing that many people will be unable to attend due to the current pandemic restrictions, the last fifteen minutes of the visitation as well as the full service, will be live-streamed with the following link allowing you to be a part of the services virtually: please click HERE to watch beginning at 10:45 a.m. (kindly ensure that you do not have a pop-up blocker installed).

Following the life celebration service, Tom will be buried next to his beloved wife, Henrietta, at Rosemont Cemetery, Route 519, Delaware Township, NJ.

It is important to remember that given the current state of the pandemic, masks must be worn at all times on funeral home and cemetery grounds, and social distancing must be maintained. Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival at each location.

You are encouraged to visit Tom’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Tom’s favorite hometown radio station, via mail to WDVR FM, PO Box 191, Sergeantsville, NJ 08557 or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”