Wendy Couch Obituary

Wendy Couch
January 7, 1931 - November 22, 2024
Wendy Couch (Ethelwyn Ann Couch Sprenger), long-time Palmer resident, passed at age 93 on November 22, 2024. She was born in Seattle on January 7, 1931, the youngest of three children born to Irwin and Marion Russell. She grew up on a small ranch in the Yakima Valley, graduating from Zillah High School. She went on to Whitworth College, earning her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. In June 1955, she was accepted by the Presbyterian Missionary Board to teach elementary school in Persia where she taught three years. Her weekly letters home were published in the local newspaper!
When she returned home, she married Bob Couch, her former school-mate from grades K-12. Bob worked for the Forest Service, moving frequently for several years. During this time, their four children, Mark, Andy, Diane, and Duane were born. Bob earned his Civil Engineer degree which opened the opportunity to a transfer to Alaska in 1971. Wendy was always up for an adventure, so they packed their family and drove the ALCAN Highway, pulling a horse trailer with Diane's beloved pony.
They soon settled in Palmer. While Bob commuted to Anchorage to work, Wendy immersed herself in the Palmer Community. She became the Butte 4-H Leader, was an active member of the Palmer Church of God, and joined the Gold Dusters Homemakers Group. They devoted themselves to their family, encouraging and supporting each child to follow their diverse dreams. They hunted, fished, camped, hiked, cross-country skied, gardened, and picked blueberries together. Often when the guys went hunting, she told them, "Now I don't care what you hunt, but you have to bring back some moose, because moose is my favorite!" Wendy assisted Helen Woodings in guiding kayaking trips in Prince William Sound for over a decade. Wendy loved to travel, and after Bob died from cancer in 1994, her trips to many countries became more frequent. In 2009, she married Fred Sprenger, Bob's high school hunting partner. Wendy and Fred took many fascinating trips until his death from cancer in 2017.
Wendy is remembered for her beautiful warm smile and kind gentle manner. She always jumped in to help when there was a job to be done or a friend needed encouragement. She was up for any adventure. Wendy was preceded in death by both her husbands; her parents; her sister, Roberta Green; her brother, David Russell; and son, Duane Couch. She is survived by three children and their spouses, Mark (Cheryl) Couch, Andy Couch (Frede Stier), Diane (Terry) Warta; and daughter-in-law, Dodi Lochridge; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Palmer Church of God (near the Alaska State Fairgrounds) on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 2 p.m. There will be a reception following in the Church Fellowship Hall. All Wendy's friends, acquaintances, fellow-adventures, and family are invited to come and share their memories of this gracious woman who lived her life well.