Wendy Schampan Mekler Obituary (1955 - 2020)

Wendy Schampan Mekler, 64, Minnetonka, MN, passed away unexpectedly at her home on May 4th, 2020. Wendy was born August 30, 1955, in Passaic, NJ, the daughter of Stanley and Barbara (Orenstein) Schampan. The family moved from New Jersey to Kansas City, and then from St. Louis to Huntington, Long Island, where she graduated from high school in 1973. Wendy then graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she was in the first class at Northwestern to receive an Urban Studies degree. She subsequently moved to Minneapolis to start her working career near family. Minneapolis was home to Wendy, having spent summers with her family on Lake Minnetonka at her grandparents’ home. She pursued several careers, first as a clothing rep traveling across the midwest, and then as a financial advisor at Piper Jaffray in Minneapolis where she met her former husband, Gregg Mekler. Once their son Josh was born, Wendy became a full-time stay-at-home mom. Wendy enjoyed sailing on Lake Minnetonka and Lake Superior where the family vacationed on Madeline Island. Wendy was brave and independent and shared her joy for life with her many friends and family. She loved walking in nature, especially at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and overseas travel. In recent years, Wendy traveled to Cambodia, Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka. Wendy’s son, Josh, was the light of her life. She shared with him a love of baseball, especially the Minnesota Twins, and loved going with him to games at Target Field. Wendy was especially proud of Josh’s academic accomplishments, particularly his matriculation to the University of Minnesota Medical School. Wendy is survived by her son Josh Mekler (fiance Elizabeth Elkin), her sister Nancy (John) Hughes, her brother Geoffrey (Lisa) Schampan, and numerous nieces and nephews. Wendy was predeceased by her parents, Stanley and Barbara Schampan. Memorials may be sent to The Animal Humane Society or The University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. There will be a private virtual funeral for close friends and family on Friday May 8th, 2020 at 2pm central time. For those that would like to attend, please email erin@hodroffepstein.com for the Zoom link.