January 8, 1941 - June 17, 2026
Charles Wendell Vandersluis
"Wendell"
Age 85, of Minneapolis, passed away peacefully at home on June 17, 2026 with family by his side, after a five-year journey with Alzheimer’s disease. Wendell was born on January 8, 1941, in Bemidji to Charles and Rosalie (McCullough) Vandersluis. He was raised in Bemidji and enjoyed gardening with his mother and participating in 4H; he was proud of his prize winning vegetables at the State Fair. With boyhood friends he learned to ski, camp, and canoe and enjoyed many wilderness adventures. Wendell graduated from Bemidji High School in 1959 and attended Macalester College and the University of Minnesota. He was drafted in 1959 and stationed in Karlsruhe, Germany where he developed a love of travel and pursued an interest in photography. Following his service Wendell took some graduate classes in photojournalism at the University of Minnesota and became the photo editor of the Minnesota Daily. He then landed a position as photographer with the Men’s Athletic Department at the U of M, where he served for 30 years. Wendell was respected and well-liked by colleagues and known as an excellent photographer who had a sharp eye for anticipating and capturing outstanding action shots in all sports.
Wendell married Cindy Marsh in 1985; he called Cindy the love of his life and they remained devoted partners for 41 years. They shared a love of theater and music, as well as a passion for gardening, creating beautiful gardens at their home. Wendell and Cindy travelled widely and were lucky to be part of a friendship group that experienced biking adventures in Italy and France as well as many trips to Europe and US National Parks. Early on they canoed in the BWCA and the North Shore remained a favorite vacation spot. Wendell enjoyed cross-country skiing, golf, and scuba diving. He was also a skilled sailor who was certified as a captain; Wendell and Cindy enjoyed sailing trips in the Apostle Islands and BVI. They joined First Universalist Church of Minneapolis in 2006 and became active members. In his last years, Wendell and Cindy sang in the Giving Voice Choir for people with dementia; at church and in the choir, Wendell sang with joy and enthusiasm.
Wendell brought warmth, love and laughter to his family and friends. He was a favorite uncle, always supportive and kind, and very funny. He possessed a wonderful inventive mind and a gift for looking at things from a different angle, coming up with ideas and solutions that reflect creativity and practicality. Others described him as one of a kind: smart, quirky, joyful, fun loving and unfailingly kind.
Survived by loving wife, Cynthia Marsh; brothers-in-law, Scott (Anne) Johnson and Ivan (Barb) Wold; nieces and nephews, Claire Johnson (Dan Newman), Martha Johnson, Bill Wold, Mary (Ray) Carter, Janna (Scott) McGaw and Sarah Strobush; grand-nieces and grand-nephews, Alice, Lucy, Natalie, Leah, Jeff, Sam, Jackson, Naomi, Julia, Aaron and Claire; former wife, Kay Thomas; and other loving family members and friends. Preceded in death by parents, Charles and Rosalie Vandersluis; sister, Gretchen Hazard; and niece, Hannah Marie Johnson LeBlanc.
Memorials to First Universalist Church of Minneapolis; Sierra Club, North Star Chapter; or Crosstown Giving Voice Choir.
Celebration of Life
Friday, August 14, 2026
2:00PM
First Universalist Church of Minneapolis
3400 Dupont Ave. So.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Interment
Private
Fort Snelling National Cemetery
7601 34th Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Wendell was GREAT guy!
I met Wendell while I was a player for the football team 1981-1985.
He was a wonderful person.
RIP
Wendell was the advisor for the U of M Danceline (now the U of M Dance Team – 23-time National Champs!) in our early years. His ability to connect with people of all ages was very welcome during a time when we had to fight our way through the bureaucracy and pushback from the administration and sometimes even the students!
Wendell was one of the most wonderful people I had the good fortune to meet and work with.
A master at his craft and deeply dedicated to the University. This was reflected in his induction into the University of Minnesota M Club Hall of Fame.
Wendell was truly a gentle man and a true gentleman.
May his memory be an eternal blessing.
We all enjoyed Wendell’s joy and enthusiasm while singing while Cindy helped him find his part. He also loved the treats and always had a smile. We will miss him at Giving Voice. Thank you Cindy for being such a faithful and patient wife. Sorry for your loss of a really sweet guy.
Wendell was very gracious to the women’s athletic department as we started our photography services when I was women’s sports information director. Initially we had our own darkroom but his relationship with Gerry our photographer led to a shared darkroom prior to the departments merging. He was a true gentleman. RIP.
I had the pleasure of working with Wendell when he hired me as a student at the University of Minnesota to assist in shooting football games and practices. Wendell’s easy-going manner and sense of humor always made the job fun! I am forever grateful for his training and guidance that got me started on a 41-year career of shooting football games. So sorry for your loss.
I met Wendell in December 1972, when we all drove to Aspen, Colorado to ski. It was me, my husband, another couple, and Wendell. We left the evening of December 27 to the sound of thunder and lightning. That should have been a red flag to delay the trip. It took us 36 hours to get to Aspen, driving continuously in our little blue Chevy van, stopping once in Nebraska to try to wait out the storm. It rained, snowed, and sleeted the entire time. Thank goodness for Wendell’s humor that helped us get through it. Over the next few years, we again drove with Wendell out to Aspen. We always stayed at the Alpine Lodge owned by Hans and Sharon Rieger. Sharon made wonderful dinners for us and one afternoon Wendell said he would like to make a Baked Alaska for dessert. Through much fanfare and drama, Wendell entered the dining room, with the brightly colored cake. Everyone was in awe, when all of a sudden, he tripped and the entire cake fell to the ground. Everyone was shocked and expressed their dismay. We then found out it was a fake cake, and the joke was on us. We all laughed, especially Wendell who laughed the loudest. He was one of the kindest individuals I have ever met, and my life is better for having known him. He was always encouraging and so compassionate of others. You always felt welcomed, even the first time I met him. He was liked instantly for who he was and for his rapport with people. He really knew how to listen, and everyone felt they were heard. Another time on a trip to Aspen he had to take photos of the Minnesota hockey team who was playing a game in Denver. He had brought all his equipment along and it was great to see him interact with the team and coaching staff. Besides all of his wonderful skills of creating great food, photography, wilderness skills, he also made pottery. He gave me a little blue and gray pot, which I still have today. It is a wonderful memory of Wendell and well as all of the skiing pictures. Cindy, you created such a happy life for Wendell. He adored you and you adored him. Much love to you both