Deepen Impact, Reach More
The following stories pay tribute to ER heroes – those who have lived sacrificially in order to serve others. We hope you are inspired by their lives.
Joe, Julie, Luke and Jake.
Today we honor the life of Joe Wendel. Joe and Julie, his wife, have invested deeply into the lives of countless people by loving them deeply, seeing opportunities for life change, and actively pursuing them.
Joe, 52, of Noblesville, IN, passed away unexpectedly yet peacefully in his sleep following a cardiac event on May 16.
From an earthly perspective, we’re heartbroken at Joe’s passing and we ask that you pray for Julie and his sons Luke and Jake.
From a spiritual perspective, we celebrate Joe’s unflagging love for God and people. He was a strong supporter of ER staff members, our programs and Leader Mundial. Joe and Julie created the 7 Silos Foundation to help people worldwide.
“Joe will be greatly missed by so many,” shared ER Mobilization Director Ruth Harris “But knowing he is healed and joyful in heaven with Jesus brings peace in the midst of the sadness.”
Joe (black shirt) traveled often to participate in leadership events.
“We often say our lives have a ripple effect,” said Brad McKenna, ER President & CEO. “Joe’s life certainly did, in the most positive way.
“He lived with a selfless generosity that was unmatched. He has been a significant friend and ministry partner to ER. This is a very personal loss for people close to our ER family and many of our partners. I will personally miss him.”
Jerry Carnill said he and Dawn (ER Co-Founders) deeply appreciated Joe on many levels.
“Joe and Julie started volunteering on ER Christmas teams. Then we invited Joe to be a part of Leader Mundial. That’s when I got to know him well. Friendship always grows through shared experiences,” Jerry said.
Joe invested in Dream Center kids.
“Over the years, we’ve had tons of shared experiences with Joe and Julie, including ER visiting projects and people. Because Joe traveled to the ministry sites and personally talked with people, he heard their stories, saw their needs and realized the potential for life change was great.
“Joe was all about investing in people. He called it capacity-building. He did this by giving of his time, money and wisdom. He helped ER as an organization build capacity to reach more people.
“He always took time to listen, ask questions, ask questions and listen,” Jerry said. “The reason I said ‘listen’ first is because Joe would listen to you as you talked and then he would ask follow-up questions and then he would listen again. Sometimes he would stop and pray for you right there in the moment.
“While Joe was incredibly generous, giving is not his legacy. It’s his love for people and the way he saw everyone uniquely. He helped celebrate that.
“He loved deeply, loved people well and always took time for individuals. He gave people one-on-one attention. And he always had great advice.
“Joe’s passing has created opportunities to step into the gaps he leaves behind. If you’d like to honor Joe, look around and find people who are serving the Lord and love them well. Listen to them, pray for them and find ways to encourage them toward deeper impact and a closer walk with the Lord, because that was Joe,” Jerry added.
Joe’s impact through Leader Mundial will be felt for generations.
“Joe has been a part of our Global Leader Mundial Community for many years and has invested his life, his resources, his deep wisdom and his love into all of us,” shared Leader Mundial Founder Russ Cline. “Joe modeled for us all what relationship, care, and partnership are all about.”
Thank you, Joe, for your humility, strength and service to the Lord.
Joe’s Obituary
Julie and Joe.
Joseph “Joe” Allen Wendel, 52, of Noblesville, Indiana, passed away unexpectedly yet peacefully in his sleep following a cardiac event on Saturday morning, May 16, 2026. The youngest of two children, Joe was born on June 27, 1973, to Ralph and Linda Wendel in Indianapolis, Indiana. Joe attended Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where he studied engineering, played soccer, and was a member of the Triangle Fraternity.
Joe had a long and successful career in business as the owner of Breakers Unlimited. After taking over the family business shortly after college, he grew Breakers Unlimited into a company with a national footprint. He considered his employees and their families an extension of his own family and cared deeply for the people who worked alongside him.
Joe married the love of his life (AKA The One), Julie Hoffman Wendel. Together they raised two sons, Luke and Jake, who were his pride and greatest accomplishment. Joe and Julie built a family centered around faith, generosity, and the beauty of Jesus Christ. They opened their home at Wendel Woods to countless people, creating a place marked by peace, laughter, hospitality, and restoration. Together, they also helped establish Seven Silos to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to unreached and underreached parts of the world.
Over the course of his life, Joe wrote roughly 200 poems, many of which were assembled into his book, A Life in Poems. In his later years, he spent mornings walking and reciting poetry from memory, often for nearly an hour at a time.
Joe is survived by his wife, Julie Wendel; his sons, Luke (Gabby) Wendel and Jake (Bethany) Wendel; his parents, Ralph and Linda Wendel; and his sister, Dee Ann (Jeff) Marshall. In lieu of flowers, and in memory of Joe, contributions may be made to The Signatry, noting “The 7 Silos Fund” in the memo line, 7171 W. 95th Street, Suite 50, Overland Park, KS 66212.
