Joshua Michael Wendt: A Working-Class Hero Who Forged His Own Path

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Joshua Michael Wendt
May 22, 1977 – October 9, 2025

On October 9th, 2025, a loving father, beloved son, fun-loving brother, and dear friend was called away too soon. Though his wings may have been weathered, saltwater-soaked, torn, and tattered, Josh thoroughly enjoyed life and proudly forged his own path.

Joshua Michael Wendt was born in Ukiah, California, on May 22, 1977, to Michael and Arlene Wendt. Early on some things became apparent. He showed an interest in sports, creative ventures and a visceral disdain of conformity. He championed the plight of the underdog and the real heroes of everyday life. Those working-class heroes. The creators and builders that made their own way and forged their own path freed entirely from the constraints of popular opinion.

Josh’s mother recalled a doctor’s visit when Josh uttered one of his first words as a baby. He was around a year old sitting on his mother’s lap when he pointed to a circle on the office wallpaper design and said inquisitively, “ball?” This perhaps foretold his love of baseball. He went on to play baseball in the Cutten Ridgewood Recreation Association Cal (CRRA) in Eureka. As an adult, he served as a league board member for nine years. The President of the board, Steve Ritter, described Josh as a valued member who promoted and lead improvement projects.

Josh and his stepfather Steve Hoopes, whom he lovingly referred to as ‘Pop’, tackled moving the new snack shack at the Winship Baseball Field. Steve dug the footings, Josh poured and finished the cement, before positioning the shack in its new location. He loved being able to contribute to the league and a cause that meant so much to him. He also served as a coach for his son Current’s team for several seasons and according to Steve Ritter Josh specialized in teaching pitching mechanics.

Josh was not a fan of traditional education or conforming to social structures. His mother enrolled him in pre-school, hoping to help lay the foundation of his socialization and early development. However, Josh wanted no part of it and quit after only one day in attendance. This led to Arlene dubbing him “a pre-school dropout.”

Despite his rebellious nature, he was extremely bright, intelligent and had a great sense of humor. There was also a very loving, empathetic, thoughtful way in which he cared for others. You could always count on Josh to help a family member, friend, or neighbor in whatever way he could. He had a deep love for his people.

While Josh adored his children and family, he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. Josh’s longtime friend, aka ‘Brother’ Darby Minty said it best, “He loved his friends. He adored his children. He loved his family. He loved his network in his own craggy way. He didn’t exactly come across peachy, in fact half the time it seemed his cup overflowed with the juice of sour grapes and on the contrary he had a big, sweet heart that always seemed to bleed for the underdog. He was a lover and a fighter, a big fat s*** talker between the two … we loved him for his strong side, his soft underbelly and his many peculiarities.” Josh also loved teasing and playfully razzing those closest to him with his playful sense of humor.

Although he was born in Ukiah and partially raised in Oregon, Josh embodied many of the aggregate spirits of Humboldt County and always considered it his home. His brother Larry Ford often described him as a “redneck hippy,” and many would add Rastafari to that description. Josh enjoyed all forms of music and was a big fan of Bob Marley and Reggae especially. Like the icon himself, Josh was quick to callout injustices and zero tolerance for racism or other forms of hate. He was a regular attendee and volunteer at the Reggae on the River Music Festival where he enjoyed music and the atmosphere of unity with friends and family.

Josh found peace in the presence of nature in a similar way to which he felt connection to and through music. He loved to spend his time at the beach, surfing, or relaxing under the canopy of the redwoods. Josh embodied being “Humboldt homegrown.” He went out of his way to support local business, creations and artists whenever he could. Part of his love of nature also extended to his furry companions; his beloved dog “Koa” Makua was part wolf. Josh respected the fact Koa’s wild tendencies could not completely be tamed. His deep love and connection to Koa presented unique challenges, but Josh faced those hurdles in the same way he faced challenges in life. He valued authenticity, even if it was not convenient, comfortable or well received. He much preferred inconvenient truth over comfortable lies and was willing to sacrifice some comfort to achieve that end.

His appreciation for working class hero’s eventually lead him down the path of becoming one himself. Straight out of high school, Josh went to work for Jim Fuller at James Builders at the age of 17 and became a member of what he and his coworkers dubbed, “The James Gang.” One of his first jobs was in the construction of his mother and stepfather’s house, in the years that followed he would be sure to remind her of it often. He would laugh and say, “You know, I built this house.”

He loved his trade and had a deep appreciation for the “old school ways” and work ethic. He joined the Operative Plasterer’s and Cement Masons Union: Local 300 in early 2001. Looking to advance and grow in his trade when James Builders went Union, Josh enrolled in a Cement Mason’s certification program, along with ‘Brother’ Ed Allen. The two James Gang boys scored highest in their class in the Northern California region union exams for certification, that were administered in Sacramento. Josh, Ed, and Alme Allen (Ed’s Brother) worked steadily on several projects at HSU through 2007. In total, he worked for James Builders for around 20 years building and creating lifelong connections to more members of his closest friends/family group. During that time, aside from the HSU projects, he was part of several important local infrastructure projects in Humboldt County and beyond including jobs for PG&E, St. Joseph Hospital and many local area schools. He eventually went freelance for a few years thereafter before taking a job with Triad Inc. as a Cement Foreman a year or so before his passing. His labor resulted in the literal foundations of so many of the places the local community he loved continually relies on.

If you were to ask him what his most important contribution he made to the world was, I’m sure there would be no pause or hesitation in saying that it was his three children with wife Holly, Kenna, Teagan and Current. They were his greatest achievement, his “Redemption Song.” He was beyond proud of all of them and always hopeful they would follow a path that they chose. He wanted them to be their wonderful authentic selves, no matter what they decided to do with their lives. When Kenna joined the Army and was sworn in, Josh lovingly wrote on a post accompanied by a picture of the event, “You try to raise them up to be little outlaws and look what happens, very proud of this young woman.” Josh later found love with Oceana Chatard whom he lived with and hoped to marry, before his untimely passing.

Above all, Josh valued deep connection and perhaps that is why he placed such importance on authenticity. To truly be connected, you must first be authentic and genuine. He sought out that authenticity, as a means to find the deep connection he desired. Connection through laughter, work, music, storytelling and real honest conversation. He was a nurturer, a supporter, a willing ear to bend and genuinely, just wanted everyone to feel that every little thing was going to be alright.

“We do what we do each day to survive, but the silver lining to all the daily drudgery is connection. Connection to family and to friends and to community”, Darby Mintey

“The greatness of a man is not how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively”, Bob Marley

Joshua is survived by his daughters Kenna Wendt (US Army), Teagan Wendt; his son Current Wendt; his cherished partner Oceanna Chatard; his mother Arlene Hoopes; his sister Jennifer Wendt Lester; his brother Larry Ford II; stepbrothers Jeremy and Ryan Hoopes. Joshua is also survived by many beloved nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father Michael Wendt; his stepfathers: Larry Ford and Steven Hoopes; his paternal grandparents Arden and Anna Wendt; his maternal grandparents Wesley and Jane Sargent.

Celebration of Life for Joshua Wendt on Saturday, July 18th, 2026. For more information call Arlene Hoopes.