Niles Charles Wendorf, 81, of Ixonia, passed away on December 14, 2025. He was born October 8, 1944, in Hustisford, Wisconsin, to Elmo and Mabel Wendorf and grew up with his brothers, Lyle and Elmo Jr. He was baptized October 22, 1944, and confirmed June 8, 1955, at Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ixonia.
After graduating from Oconomowoc High School, where he was active in FFA, Niles served four years as a U.S. Army Drill Sergeant in the Reserves and discovered his passion for dairy cattle breeding at Crescent Beauty Farm.
On September 4, 1966, he married Carolyn Wolf, his partner in life and in building Crescentmead Farm alongside his brother Elmo Jr. Crescentmead earned international recognition with 50 All-American or Junior All-American nominations, 260 sires in major AI units, and 317 Excellent cows, 54 Gold Medal Dams, and 43 Dam of Merit award winners. Niles was active in international semen and embryo sales, hosted 43 Japanese trainees and others from Europe and South America, and judged over 50 local, national, and international shows, including in Japan, Australia, England, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay.
His honors include the First Wisconsin Younger Breeder Award, Wisconsin Adult Breeder Award, Dairy Shrine Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder Award, Wisconsin State Fair Hall of Fame, and World Dairy Expo’s Dairyman of the Year. Two of his proudest accomplishments were Lawcrest Rotate Mindy, National Milk Record holder for Senior 3-Year-Olds, and Rotate Amanda, the breed’s #1 CTPI cow.
Niles and Carolyn raised three children-Todd, Tracy, and Troy-and were proud grandparents to six grandchildren. He loved attending their events, concerts, and Holstein or swine shows. Beyond farming, he raised and raced Standardbred sulky horses, enjoyed home projects, sweet treats, and his trademark “half-thumbs up.”
A devoted Christian, Niles served as President and Council member at Cross Lutheran Church and later as a council member and usher at Peace Lutheran Church. Known for his keen eye for a good cow, gentle spirit, and steady faith, he once shared that he prayed for his heifers only weeks before calving. When told he started too late, he replied, “Don’t you believe in miracles?” He also served as a 4-H dairy leader and was a member of the National, Wisconsin, and Dodge County Holstein Associations, serving as Dodge County president and Chairman of the State Champion Show multiple times.
Niles is survived by his wife, Carolyn; children Todd (Christa), Tracy Propst (Andy), and Troy (Sarah); grandchildren Landon and Mylie Wendorf, Zackary and Lindsay Propst and Grady and Lane Wendorf; brothers Lyle (Linda), Elmo Wendorf Jr, and Joe Rayman; sisters-in-law Marilyn Mayer, Minnette Wolf, Evelyn (Larry) Lepien and Laurelyn (Michael) Lepien; and many extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmo and Mabel Wendorf.
