"Lynn" Gerlinde Elsa Wendel

“Lynn” Gerlinde Elsa Wendel, 86, of Howard, OH, passed away Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Avalon Health & Rehab Center, in Mount Vernon, OH.

Lynn was born a war baby on March 23, 1940, in Schweinfurt, Germany to Otto and Sophie Elise {Ganz} Reuter. She married Randal Boelling in 1960 and later had their first son Kent. Their daughter, Kim, was born several years later. Randal was a career army officer and retired as a Colonel. He passed in 2020.

Lynn ran her own business selling promotional business gifts. She started in Germany then ran it from the USA when she came in the 1980’s. From the 1960’s through the 1980’s she was back and forth between Germany and here. At the early age of 47 she moved to Kenya Africa for runs on the beach and a nice retirement for 25 years. She was known as “Mama Lagoon” or “Boss Lady” to the locals. After Kenya she moved to Vanuatu with her daughter Kim and her grandchildren. She loved to travel, taking several cruises around the world. She finally came back to the USA for health reasons. She loved to cook German delicacies, garden flowers, read romance novels one after another as well as play solitaire on her phone. She loved her dogs Laila and Lilah. Her grandchildren called her “Omi.”

Lynn will be deeply missed by her children Kent (Judie) Boelling, Kimberly (Jon) Jolley Romer, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and lifelong friends Heidi and Lydia. Lynn was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Gerhardt and Wolfgang Reuter and her son-in-law, David Jolley. 

Friends may call Saturday August 22, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at Roberts Funeral Home-Mount Vernon Chapel. Celebration of Life services will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home with Deacon Tim Birie officiating. Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com.