Date of Death: March, 13 2018

         Wendy Balenger, 53, Escanaba, passed away on Tuesday, March 13, 2018. She is now waiting at the top of heaven’s highest hill with her beloved Wally. She was born on August 18, 1964.  She was the daughter of Agnes Lavign and James Gerou.
         
          Wendy was a hard worker who spent the last 22 years of her life working as a Domestic Engineer. Wendy was also an office manager, traffic director, sales associate, interior designer, medical transcriptionist, nursing assistant, care taker and renowned cook in her lifetime. Wendy spent her life devoted to her family and God. Wendy helped teach family, friends, especially her daughter and granddaughter about the word of the Lord and his love for his children.
 
           Wendy was an amazing Mom. She spent most of her days taking care of her daughter, loving her daughter, and being the very best Mom. She took a lot of pride in being a Mom and often said it was "her very most favorite job". Wendy took her daughter on many vacations like cruises and trips out of the country. Wendy loved taking her daughter four wheeling, snowmobiling, and camping all over the state of Michigan. Wendy worked hard to make sure her daughter had every toy a child could ever want. She did the same for her granddaughter, whom she was very very proud of.
 
           Grandma B was known for spoiling! Whether it was sneaking a sugary treat or buying every toy she found, Grandma B loved her grandbaby! She designed a beautiful nursery for her granddaughter which was complete with things from past and present to show toys like Grandma B had played with as a child. When her grandbaby came to town she would spoil her with trips to the toy store and restaurants. Wendy was a very proud grandma and she enjoyed bragging to everyone about her “princess.”
 
          Wendy met Wally in the Arcadia Bar in Gladstone Michigan in 1990. They lived a happy life full of Harley rides, adventures and explorations. In 1995, they bought a house together and got pregnant with their “miracle baby”. In 1996, the baby was born and in August 1996 they married. Sadly in 2000 Wally was diagnosed with Mesothelioma and Wendy spent years by his side taking care of him 24/7. Wendy worked very hard to take care of her daughter and Wally while remaining strong for her family. In 2005 Wally’s time was near an end and he promised to meet her at the top of heaven’s highest hill.
 
          In 2008, Wendy married her soul mate and husband Paul. They married in Escanaba and took their honeymoon at Sybaris in Wisconsin. Wendy and Paul lived a wonderful life together. Paul took Wendy and her daughter fishing, camping, four wheeling, ice skating and to different basketball and football games. Wendy was very proud of the amazing step-father Paul had been to her daughter. He taught her to play basketball (even being the couch of the team), teaching her to drive, and many other life lessons, and even becoming a great “papa” to Wendy’s grandbaby.
 
           Wendy was a really good cook. She took pride in making healthy and delicious meals for her family. Everyone that tried her cooking was amazed at how delicious it was and how much love she put into every meal. Wendy enjoyed playing cribbage with her father, mother and husband and carried on the tradition even after his passing. She also enjoyed playing pool, mega touch, air hockey, and foosball in her basement bar which she designed all by herself. It was filled with Detroit Lions and Green bay packer decorations. Wendy was an avid Detroit Lions fan and Paul was a Green Bay Packer fan. Lions vs. Packer games were a competitive time around the house enjoyed by everyone.
 
           Wendy also loved her dogs Beasley and Bailey. She spent countless hours grooming them and giving them treats. Wendy was a loving and giving person. She enjoyed giving whatever she could to whoever it would help around her. Wendy was a fighter, she never gave up and she was a force to be reckoned with when she was on a mission. Wendy helped people, she gave chances to people to do the righteous thing over and over again…even if they didn’t deserve it.
 
          Wendy took pride in keeping an emaculate house where she loved to show off her new designing and crafting projects which she was really good at. Wendy enjoyed spending the summers riding around in her EOS convertible with the top down. She even let her daughter drive it around town. Wendy was a “jack of all trades, master of none” she enjoyed teaching herself different things from knowledge to wood working and projects around the house. She could do anything she set her mind to.
          Wendy will be dearly missed and is very much loved by her daughter, husband, and grandbaby.
 
Wendy is survived, missed and loved dearly by her mother: Agnes Lavign of Escanaba, daughter: Tricia Balenger of Kalamazoo, husband: Paul Boudreau, Escanaba,  Paul's children: Ashley Boudreau of New York, NY and Kyle Boudreau of Marquette, and grandchildren: Zoey Morrow of Kalamazoo, Jewel of Marquette, and Logan and Lennon of New York, NY.
 
          Wendy was proceeded in death by her husband: Wally Balenger of Gladstone, and her father: James Gerou of  Escanaba.
 
          In keeping with Wendy's wishes, there will be no public funeral. Wendy would say “if you couldn’t come see me while I was alive, don’t bother now.” A private celebration of her life will be held at Bar B&B.
 
          “Love don't stop. And it never will. Love don't stop. One day we'll be together, love don't stop. And I'll sing this song to you someday, On heaven's highest hill”
 
          Burial will be in Fernwood Cemetery.
         
          Please visit www.allofh.com to send online condolences to her family.