Marie Yoder Wenner, 95, of St. John’s Herr Estate in Columbia, PA, and formerly Homewood Retirement Community in Martinsburg, PA, peacefully passed away at 1:25 PM Thursday, August 13, 2026. Born December 21, 1930, in Souderton, PA, she was the daughter of the late Paul Freed Yoder and Katie Hunsicker Yoder. She was the seventh of nine children.
Marie is survived by three children, Mark Nelson Wenner and his wife, Nancy, of State College, PA; Karen Marie Pedersen and her husband, Christian, of Landenberg, PA; and James Scott Wenner and his wife, Carol, of Alexandria PA. Marie was the proud grandmother of five grandchildren, Kevin Wenner of Los Angeles, CA; Christine Wenner of McAlevys Fort, PA; Olivia Wenner of Freeport, ME; Gregory Wenner and his wife, Kate Callahan, of Boise, ID; and Eric Pedersen of St. Joseph, MI. She has one great-grandchild, Marlo Willis Wenner, born March 14, 2026.
Marie is survived by two of her siblings, Betty Reiff of Lancaster, PA; and Jim Yoder of Saco, ME, in addition to many nieces and nephews.
Marie was raised in a large, hardworking family in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. She graduated from Hilltown Township High School in 1948, then took two gap years to save money for college. Her first job was working in a stocking factory with her main claim to fame making special stockings for the singer, Kate Smith. She then served a year in the Brethren Volunteer Service. Marie followed her older sister Millie to Schauffler College for Women in Cleveland (now part of Defiance College in Ohio), and graduated with a degree in Christian Education and Social Work in 1954. A week after she graduated from College, she married Rev. Nelson Jerome Wenner on June 13. Nelson preceded her in death on January 26, 2011.
Marie and Nelson embarked on a lifetime of service and social involvement in churches and camps across Central and Eastern Pennsylvania. While Nelson worked as a minister, Marie served in various Christian Education leadership roles at the churches where they were stationed. She continued her personal mission of service through volunteering with UCC conferences, teaching nursery school, developing christian education curriculum, providing workshops, writing self-help articles, and training others to serve their churches. In 1979 she returned to school as an adult to earn a Master’s Degree in Counselor Education from Penn State University. She then added elementary school counselor to her resume, and continued her life’s work in Christian Education. In 1982 they moved to Wolfeboro, NH, for Marie to be the Christian Education Director at the First Congregational Church. They eventually made their way back to Pennsylvania, and by the time they retired Marie and Nelson had served congregations in towns including Warminster, Huntingdon, State College, Valley Forge, Catasauqua, Altoona, and Bethlehem (to name a few).
In retirement, she took up painting, gardening and writing poetry. She was a devoted member of the Standing Stone Art League and The Friends of the Hartslog Heritage Museum. She self-published three books of poetry and enjoyed teaching watercolor classes throughout Huntingdon County. Marie also enjoyed keeping in touch with the many friends she had cultivated throughout her life. She enjoyed calling for a chat, or sending notes on postcards that often featured her original watercolors.
To her core family, she was lovingly known as, “Honey.” This namesake was given by her granddaughter, Christine, after she heard Nelson call Marie, “Honey.” Christine repeated it, and the name stuck. Honey took particular care in teaching her grandchildren the importance of being creative, finding humor in the small things, helping others when you could, and being flexible. She moved through her life with levity, even when navigating difficult times. She always had the ability to make meaningful connections with the people around her - whether she was meeting you for the first time, or you were already in her orbit. She had a knack for storytelling and particularly enjoyed making those around her laugh (though she was also quite good at giving herself a good chuckle too). She will be remembered as a loving mentor, creative spirit, helping friend, and a champion for fairness and acceptance; a living example to others of politeness, and a delightful sense of humor.
A celebration of her life is planned for Saturday October 17, 2026 at 3pm at The Abbey Reformed UCC, 515 6th Street Huntingdon, PA. Visitation with family will be from 2:15 to 3 prior to the service.
In Lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in memory of Marie Wenner can be made to: The Abbey Reformed UCC, 515 6th Street, Huntingdon PA. Website: abbeyreformed.org or The Huntington County Arts Council, 313 12th Street, Huntingdon PA 16652. Website: www.huntingdoncountyarts.com
