Wallace James Wrench

Wallace James Wrench of Kalamazoo died on Sept. 27, 2020. Wally was born in Libertyville, Illinois on Jan. 1 1929 the son of Alfred Henry and Isabelle Genevieve (Sauve) Wrench. Wally loved to play sports as a youth. Growing up in the Milwood neighborhood playing sandlot baseball and sneaking on the local golf course to play a few holes. He excelled at basketball at St. Augustine High School. Two coaches and a priest greatly influenced his life: Harve Freeman (basketball); Bill Rajkovich (track) and Fr. Robert Taffee (St. Augustine High School). Wally proudly served in the US Navy on the USS Requisite as a Seabee. In the late 1950’s and 1960’s, Wally became a MHSAA/MIAA sports official spanning 26 years in basketball, football, and baseball. He later became one of the first golf coaches for Monsignor John R. Hackett High School and coached 8th grade basketball at St. Augustine for 12 years. Wally was a tournament coordinator for the Michigan PGA for 35 years. He had the privilege to work with golf professional Greg Matthews for many years. The times with Greg were some of his fondest memories. Wally spent many wonderful years as a vendor at the Kalamazoo Flea Market where he developed lifelong friendships. Wally was also a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and the Elks Country Club of Kalamazoo for 73 years and worked with veterans through the VA hospital, VFW, and the American Legion. Wally was preceded in death by the mother of his children Sally Wrench, his sister, Carol and husband Roy Healy of Richland in 2016. His lifelong friends, Dr. Jim Simonds Sr., Nathan (Babe) Lascala, and their families, have been treasures since childhood. He is survived by his wife Millie Nodland whom he married on Oct. 22, 1983 in Allegan, seven children: Jane (Tim) VanderWeele, Kalamazoo; Steve (Carolynn) Wrench, Ramsey, MN; Dave Wrench, Costa Mesa, CA; Tom (Jennifer) Wrench, Kalamazoo; Mark Wrench, Kalamazoo; Joan Graves, Kalamazoo, and John (Amy) Wrench, Longwood, FL. Wally is also survived by his two stepson’s; Erick Nodland, Portland, OR and Greg (Tara) Nodland, Bloomfield Hills. Wally was always proud of the accomplishments made by his 21 grandchildren and he adored his 10 great-grandchildren. His legacy is secured. Visitation will be held at the Kalamazoo Redmond Funeral Home on Wed. Oct. 7, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with a service following at 1:00 p.m. Donations can be made to St. Andrews Community Church, Hospice of Southwest Michigan, or Rose Arbor Hospice.