WICHITA,   KANSAS

ARLEEN  F.  (WINDERLIN) SPONSEL , 86, beautiful mother and grandmother, peacefully entered eternal life surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, January 15, 2019.  Arleen and Ernest Sponsel were married for 69 years.  Together, they had eleven children. A loving mother who excelled as a businesswoman, she combined a keen business intellect with a passionate love for her family and her faith.  She will be deeply missed by her loving husband, her 11 children, 67 grandchildren, and 90+ great grandchildren.  She is also survived by her brothers Patrick (Katharine) Winderlin of Ipswitch MA and Donald Winderlin of Wichita KS. She was born August 9, 1932 to Clarence and Florence (Boylan) Winderlin in Wichita, Arleen graduated as Valedictorian of her High School Class and was married to Ernest Sponsel Sr in Goodland, Kansas. The family moved to a ranch near Lodgepole, South Dakota, living there ten years before finally locating in Wichita, Kansas. Ernest and Arleen took great pride in their 11 children, all settled within 30 miles of their parents, their grandchildren, great grandchildren, many lifelong friends and relatives.  They say their greatest blessings are the children they've raised, the friends they've made and the gift of their deep abiding faith. Arleen will be deeply missed by her devoted children:  Shirley Martin-Grimm (Don Grimm), Clarence (Carol), Ernie (Vicky), Mary Foulk-Herl (Tim Herl), Arleen (Tom) Bergkamp, Dorothy (Byron) Bergkamp, David (Nancy), John (Barbara), Therese (Dennis) Seiler, Theodore (Susan), Paul (Rachel).  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers and sisters: George Winderlin, Mary Christenson, Fred Winderlin, John Winderlin and Dorothy Rogers.

Mom was a great inspiration to her children, some aphorisms that you will hear her children repeating to this day:

"If it is to be, it is up to me"

"The answer's 'No' if you don't ask"

"Faint heart never won fair maiden"

"Pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you"

Rosary , 6:00 pm, Sunday, January 20, Funeral Mass , 10:00 am, Monday, January 21, both at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 11000 W. Southwest Blvd., Schulte, Kansas. Graveside will follow the service at the St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church Cemetery. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com