Katharine Wendorff Mensendick Guither 

 

Katharine Wendorff Mensendick Guither, 99, of Quincy, formerly of Carthage, passed away at 2:45 A.M. early Saturday morning, October 17, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Home in Quincy.

 

Katharine Guither was born in Quincy, March 18, 1921, the daughter of Drs. Herman A. and Flora Elise Kaempen Wendorff. Her maternal grandparents were the late Mrs. and Mrs. C. W. E. Kaempen, one of the foremost building contractors of Quincy, and Mr. and Mrs. Louis Henry Wendorff, long-time prominent merchants of Barry, IL.

 

Katharine attended Webster Grade School, Webster Junior High School and Quincy Senior High School. Throughout her school years she was interested in music, studying piano, violin, and voice. She also lettered in volleyball and relay teams as well as being involved in the Literary Club, Girl Scouts, German Club, Alchemy club, Booster club and the High School Rifle Range Organization. She attended MacMurray College and Quincy College, where she was a member of the Drama club. She then attended Carthage College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English and minors in History and Home Economics. On October 23, 1943 she married fellow Carthage College alumnus Robert Mensendick, who was serving in the United States Army, and Katharine found employment with the Quartermaster Department.

 

In 1944, Robert Grant Mensendick, Jr. was born to them in Washington, DC. They returned to Carthage where she was co-owner with her husband in Mensendick Hardware from 1950 to 1970, and in 1953, their daughter Kathie Ann Mensendick arrived. Her family came first. She enjoyed seeing the children participating in all sorts of activities, while continuing to serve in public service herself, including 10 years with the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. 

 

On July 16, 1995 in the Carthage United Methodist Church, Katharine married Rev. Francis Geo. Guither, and in 1999, they moved into Good Samaritan Home of Quincy where they were members of Vermont Street United Methodist Church. Katharine and Francis traveled for over 90,000 miles, visiting all of the 48 continental United States, plus Alaska, as well as the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada.

 

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert Grant Mensendick, Sr. in 1989 and her second husband, Rev. Francis Geo. Guither in 2019, her daughter Rev. Kathie Mensendick Hostetter, her brothers Herman Amel Wendorff, Jr., Dr. Robert H. Wendorff and Charles L. Wendorff, and her parents Dr. Herman A. Wendorff and Dr. Flora Kaempen Wendorff. Mrs. Guither is survived by her son Robert G. Mensendick, Jr., grandchildren Stephen G. Hostetter and Anne Hostetter, four great grandchildren, stepchildren Vaneva Bodoh, Geoffrey Guither, and Peter Guither, seven step-grandchildren and 14 step-great-grandchildren.

 

Due to Covid-19, a private celebration of Katharine’s life will be held by the family at a later date.

For the full story of Katharine’s life, read the extended version at https://www.printyfuneralhome.com/

Tributes and condolences may be left at www.printyfuneralhome.com. 

 

Printy Funeral Home of Carthage is in charge of arrangements.