Darrel Kevin Wenzel

Darrel Kevin Wenzel, 63, of Tulsa, Oklahoma passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by friends and family, on February 8, 2024 following a year and a half long battle with cancer.

Darrel was born in Wichita, Kansas on May 31, 1960, to Lonnie Darrel (L.D.) and Marilyn Wenzel and a much wider Wenzel extended family, whom he loved deeply. He was the oldest of three brothers.

He helped out at the family auto salvage business in Wichita from a young age, forging a relentless work ethic in the process. He held several jobs in retail management and worked for many years in power tool and fastener sales until his retirement in 2023. His drive was not limited to his day job. He took meticulous care of his home and his things, and kept a never-ending to-do list of projects to stay busy.

Darrel moved to Tulsa in 1982 and met the love of his life, Liza, working together at Payless Cashways Hardware Store. They later married in 1985 and spent the next 12 years making lifelong friends in Austin, TX, Houston, TX, Oklahoma City, OK and Wichita, KS before settling down back in Tulsa in 1997.

He loved dirt bikes and motorsports. He was a great handyman and loved a good deal. He liked bike rides and spending time at the beach. He was a talented drummer, cook, and barbeque pitmaster. He was an excellent talker and loved to host friends and family. He loved his dogs and being at home. However, his greatest love was his family, especially his children and his grandchildren.

Darrel is preceded in death by his father, Lonnie Darrel Wenzel, his mother, Marilyn Jeannine Wenzel, and grandparents Frank & Meekie Schneller, as well as L.G. & Beryl Wenzel.

He is survived by his wife, Liza Wenzel, as well as his children, Shauna Savedra and husband Chris, Andrew Wenzel and wife Morgan, and Eric Wenzel, as well as his three beautiful granddaughters, Sofia, Maggie, and Charlotte. He is also survived by his brothers, Tom Wenzel and wife Kim, and Frank Wenzel and wife Shelly, his mother-in-law, Cary Youngblood, and countless friends and extended family members.

No visitation or formal service has been scheduled. A Celebration of Darrel's life will be scheduled in the coming months.

The family would like to thank Oklahoma Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, and Saint Francis Hospice for their support and care over the past few months.