High school graduate of Xavier High School in Appleton, WI
College graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, WI with a bachelor's degree in history
Post-graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI with a master's of arts degree in library science
Continued certification with the State of Wisconsin at the Grade 1 level for public library directors

Professional work experience:

Appleton Public Library, library page and assistant to the children's librarian
Madison Public Library, university page and bookmobile assistant
Lawrence University Library, government documents and periodicals assistant
Kimberly Public Library, library director (25th anniversary on December 18, 2003)
Kimberly-Little Chute Public Library, library director (10th anniversary on April 1, 2004)

Professional affiliations:

Member of the Wisconsin Library Association
Member of the Outagamie Waupaca Library System and its shared automation network
Board Member of the Fox Cities Book Festival
Member of the Community Reads Committee
Past teacher of a course for the development and certification of public librarians in Wisconsin and other states through the auspices of the University of Wisconsin Department of Continuing Education, School of Library and Information Science, Madison
Past member of the Wisconsin Library Association's Personnel and Professional Concerns Committe, known as P2C2; this committee is charged with the task of compiling the salary and benefits survey for the state's public librarians

Hobbies:

Reading for pleasure includes mysteries, fantasies, biographies, humor, sports, historical novels, Harry Potter, and other books for children and young adults (try the online book clubs...they're GREAT!)
Collecting nesting dolls (Matrioska or Matrushka), hand-dyed Easter eggs (Pysanky), blue and white pottery, particularly Delftware, and miniature translucent glassware, especially toothpick holders, salt dishes, and perfume bottles
Needlework, particularly cross-stitch that is done to relax and restore sanity
Wife of Tom (retired), mother of Sarah, mother-in-law of Pete, PROUD GRANDMOTHER of Ryan, age 5 1/2, and triplets Samantha, Luke and Renee, age 2
Dog owner of Freddy, a Shetland Sheepdog who likes to eat Pysanky (see above), sheepskin rugs, and the ad inserts of magazines, but who doesn't know what to do with a chew toy. Go figure. Freddy passed away from complications of bronchial pneumonia on May 7, 2008. He never learned how to have fun as a dog, but he knew he was loved just for being himself.
Gardening using lots of perennials in flower beds and lots of annuals in pots. The gardens in the yard are defined as rooms and named by their respective shape: "mouse ears" look like the ears from the Mickey Mouse Club hat; "the racetrack" looks like the Indianapolis 500 racetrack oval; "the dog bone" is shaped like, well, a dog's bone; and "the bog" is so named because it's mostly under water when it rains. Husband Tom is in charge of planting and weeding; I'm in charge of buying and watering. The landscaped yard is now the proud home to 9 fountains.
Interior decoration, especially decorative painting techniques using lots of color (beige is not a color in the Wentzel vocabulary)
Holiday decorating with lights and Victorian ornaments, following the philosophy of "more is more"
Watching black and white movies from the 1930s and 1940s, especially those tap-dancing musicals; also watching the Harry Potter movies as they arrive in the theaters
Green Bay Packer fan who can discuss the merits of Bart Starr & Brett Favre or Ray Nitschke & Reggie White and who has no problem sitting on the cold metal seats of Lambeau Field for a late December game of a losing season (it happens, but this past season was a real rush with a 13-3 record plus the playoffs). This fan also owns one share of the frozen tundra in the Packer organization and is optimistic that footfall life after Brett Favre will continue along its glorious green and gold path.
Traveling, especially to Europe and Japan to visit friends and the extended family formed as a result of hosting four exchange students (from Denmark, Japan, Russia and Finland) and having a child spend a year as an exchange student (in Belgium)
Will be retiring as Library Director on July 16, 2009. For a countdown of days, hours, minutes and seconds until 5 p.m. on retirement day, click here. I'm thinking the last day could be one gigantic party for family, staff, board, friends, and anyone from the general public who can handle the noise level since I won't be enforcing any shhhhhhhushing rules!

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