The Reverend Robert M. Wendelken, Pastor Emeritus, St. Rita Parish, Solon, died on September 14, 2016, surrounded by family after receiving the consolation of the Sacraments. Robert Mark Wendelken was born on September 13, 1934, in Akron to the late Robert M. and Margaret Jane (Hamlin). He attended St. Gregory Minor Seminary, Cincinnati; Borromeo Seminary, Wickliffe; and St. Mary Seminary, Cleveland. He was ordained in 1961. Fr. Wendelken served several assignments as a parochial vicar throughout the Cleveland Diocese and was named Pastor of St. Timothy, Garfield Heights, in 1975. In 1982, he was named Pastor of St. Rita and became Pastor Emeritus in 2005. Throughout his priesthood, he was involved in the ministry and served in many offices for the Diocesan Tribunal from 1970-2015. Fr. Wendelken had a love of travel. He sailed the Queen Mary 2 to Europe, rode the train through the Channel Tunnel, visited Greece and took many trips to Italy. He is survived by his brothers Jon (Jan), Richard (LaVonne), and James (Penny), nieces and nephews Ann (Dominic) Fallucco, Amy (Daniel) Moneypenny, Alice Wendelken, Abigail (Joshua) Henson, Richard (Diane) Wendelken, Michael Wendelken, Catherine Wendelken, Susan Wendelken, and James Wendelken, along with nine great-nieces and nephews and multiple cousins. Family and friends will be received at the wake with Vespers on September 20, in St. Rita Church, 32820 Baldwin Road, Solon, OH, 44139 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. Visitation hours resume at 9:30-10:45 a.m. on September 21, with the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Akron. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Rita Church or St. Clare Church, 5659 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, OH, 44124