Wendell A. Kaiser, Jr.

Wendell Andrew Kaiser, Jr. hated the idea of turning 80 so much that he decided to avoid it altogether by dying suddenly on February 20th. Wendell leaves behind a legacy of faith, joyfulness, and a lovingly dysfunctional family who is not at all pleased with him for not asking their permission to do this. Born an only-child in Massachusetts, Wendell grew up in Tampa, Fl and spent the rest of his life learning to share and avoiding his parents’ nickname of “Wendy.” After escaping a boarding school, he met his greatest adversary and love, Kathryn (Kathy) at Robinson High School. In hopes that a uniform would distract from his ears and make him look less skinny, he joined the U.S. Navy after high school. His plan worked and he and Kathy were married for nearly 60 years, some of which were very happy. After leaving the Navy, Wendell embodied the stereotype of a self-made man. He could sell high tech something to somebody… or something. We were never sure, but family friends suspected nefarious things based on how much he traveled and how hard he worked. Whatever it was he was really good at it and ended his career as a Vice President at some very impressive companies. What mattered more than any of that was Wendell’s family. From that only-child beginning, he became a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, sometimes sharing his toys, but always sharing how proud he was of them. That included the ones he sired (he would love how impressive that sounds) and the ones he and Kathy adopted in. The line between friend and family was mostly hypothetical. Wendell’s survivors (not to say he was something to survive) include his wife, Kathy Kaiser of Tallahassee, FL and his children: Kathy “the good one” Campbell of Longwood, FL; Stephen “the exciting one” Kaiser (Sherry… she tried to escape, but Wendell never believed it) of Apopka, FL; Suzanne “daddy’s girl” Kaiser or Apopka, FL; and the Very Rev. Marcus ‘the favorite - obviously” Kaiser, Sr. (Kim) of Tallahassee, FL. Those who will miss their Poppy include his grandchildren Maj. Daniel Campbell, USAF (Heather), Sara “Poppy’s Princess” Campbell, Matthew Campbell (Ashley), Joshua Kaiser (fiancée Jill), Zachary Kaiser (fiancée Maddison), Scot Elliot; James Kaiser, Jacob Kaiser, Samuel Kaiser, and Marcus Kaiser, Jr.; and his great-grandchildren Jackson Campbell, Isaiah Campbell, and Adeline Campbell. The Kaiser home was never just Kaisers, and a generation of kids in Central Florida grew up at Kathy and Wendell’s house. Just as loved as his actual children were all those kids, but especially their unofficially adopted daughter Susan Nash (Kelly). Those gone before Wendell to be with their Lord include many friends and, presumably, generations of his forefathers, because that’s usually how those things work. Most significantly, Wendell, is now reunited with his beloved son-in-law Scot Campbell, and those two will have some explaining to do for all of the fun they had down here. Every life he touched and those he influenced along the way can tell you that Wendell Kaiser had fun and loved well. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024, at 2PM at St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral, Tallahassee, FL. Please make memorials to the Wounded Warrior Project. Wendell wasn’t much of a flower guy. Rocky Bevis and Kelly Barber of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) are assisting the Kaiser family with their arrangements.

Tributes

Wendell A. Kaiser, Jr.

March 29, 1944 - February 20, 2024