Norman Wessels, age 94, of Luverne, Minnesota, died peacefully on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Country View Manor in Sibley, Iowa.
Visitation will be Sunday, May 21, beginning at noon and followed by a funeral service at 1 p.m., all at the First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Burial will be held Monday at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. Arrangements are under the care of Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. To sign an online registry, please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com.
Norman Wessels was born August 28, 1928, to Frederick and Jennie (Bergman) Wessels in Nobles County, Minnesota. He was the second of twelve children. He grew up in the Ash Creek and Hardwick areas. The Wessels family moved to their family farm south of Ash Creek in 1942. He was baptized and confirmed at the State Line Ebenezer Church. He attended school in Rock County.
Following school, he lived on the farm. He first crossed paths with his future bride while attending first grade in country school. Norman’s family moved for a short time and they were reacquainted at Sunday School a few years later.
He was united in marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Joyce Reemts on January 14, 1949, at the Presbyterian Manse at the State Line Ebenezer Church. The couple lived for a short time in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and then Ash Creek before settling into their home in Luverne in 1954. Norman worked in manufacturing for his whole career. He was the plant and production manager at A.R. Wood Manufacturing Company for 29 years and then 11 years in that same position at Luverne Truck Equipment Company.
Following retirement, Norman and Joyce enjoyed spending more time at their lake home on Lake Shetek and their winter home in Texas.
On May 23, 2020, Joyce preceded Norman in death. Norman joined her in heaven on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, while under hospice care at the Country View Manor in Sibley Iowa.
Norman was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Luverne where he served as a deacon, trustee and also on various committees throughout the years. He was a member of the Rock County Historical Society. He was a Jaycee and past member of the Masonic Lodge and El Riad Shrine. He served as director of the board for the Pine to Palm Resort Park.
He enjoyed fishing, hunting, pitching softball for many summers, bowling, and a game of horse shoes. He loved spending time with Joyce, his wife of 71 years, and working on her “honey do” lists. His family and friends knew him well for his skill as a handyman.
Norman is lovingly remembered by his children, Linda (Dick Knapper) Schoon of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Mark (Lin) Wessels of Rock Rapids; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; brothers Lowell Wessels of Steen, Minnesota, Harold Wessels of Luverne, Douglas Wessels of Hardwick, and David (Beverly) Wessels of Steen; sister Enore Boelman of Luverne; daughter-in-law, Linda Wessels of Rock Rapids; sisters-in-law Gladys (Herman) Walker of Sioux Falls, Theresa Wessels of Luverne, and Gertrude Wessels of Luverne; brother-in-law Ed Elbers of Luverne; other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; son Michael Wessels; grandson Andy Wessels; great-granddaughter, Lucille Sailor; siblings Vernice Wessels, Dale Wessels, Darrel Wessels, Stanley Wessels, Phyllis Schouwenberg, and Iva Elbers; sisters-in-law Dorothy Johnson, Sharon Wessels, Jolene Wessels, and Ginny Wessels; brothers-in-law Edwin Boelman, and Donald Schouwenberg; and parents Fred and Jennie Wessels.
(Lovingly written by Joyce Wessels)