Wayne Armand Wetendorf

Mr. Wayne Wetendorf, 59, of Forsyth, passed away Wednesday, November 15, 2023. Private funeral services will be held Thursday, November 30, 2023 at Lake of the Woods Cemetery in Kenora, Ontario, Canada.

Wayne was born December 12, 1963 to Bert and Jean Wetendorf in Kenora, Ontario, Canada. He was the youngest of four children to include Gary, Sherry, and Mark. Wayne regaled stories of his childhood proclaiming he had the perfect childhood. He described his early days exploring the outdoors, riding snowmobiles, playing hockey, and spending time at his family’s summer cabin. Wayne’s love and passion for cooking was developed early from standing at the stove next to his father making his sack lunch-a lunch that would never be traded. His Mom would teach Wayne old family recipes, including her delicious perogies.

Wayne had a very successful culinary career in hotels and restaurants in Canada and in the United States. He completed his culinary training at the prestigious George Brown College in Toronto, during which time, Wayne married Brenda and together they had a daughter, Sherisse. They would later divorce.

Wayne began his work as the Executive Sous Chef at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Later, he worked as the Head Chef in hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a city he loved, and where Wayne met Terri, and at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary. Then, after moving to Dallas, Texas, in the U.S. to work for Double-Tree Hotels, Wayne was promoted to Executive Chef of the company.

After many rewarding years with Double-Tree, Wayne and Terri would make a new home in Forsyth, Georgia, where he would fulfill his entrepreneurial drive to open the Grits Café on the square in Forsyth. The café was hugely successful, even after burning down and being rebuilt from scratch. Wayne and Terri would divorce some years later. The Grits Café continues to thrive, even after Wayne’s retirement.

His friends and family will remember Wayne’s sense of humor and his laugh and will especially treasure the fun and good times they shared with him.

Wayne is preceded in death by his father, Bert Wetendorf. He is survived by his mother, Jean Wetendorf, of Kenora, Ontario, Canada; his partner and best friend, Lisa Beasor, of Daytona Beach, Florida; his brothers, Gary (Winnie) and Mark; his sister Sherry (Mark Norton); his daughter, Sherisse; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please kindly make donations in Wayne’s memory to Save-A-Pet, Inc., 430 Maynard Church

Road, Forsyth, GA 31029. Please visit www.monroecountymemorialchapel.com to express condolences.

Monroe County Memorial Chapel, 86 West Main Street, Forsyth, GA 31029 has charge of arrangements.