1928
William
2014
William "Bill" Christian Wessel, Jr.
May 14, 1928 — January 20, 2014
William Christian "Bill" Wessel, Jr., 85, died Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at Heartland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph, Mo.
He was born May 14, 1928, in St. Joseph, Mo., to William C. and Etta Marie Withrow Wessel, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.
Mr. Wessel was married to Nancy Lou Keating on Nov. 1, 1952, at Christ Episcopal Church, St. Joseph, Mo. She survives of the home in Atchison, Kan.
Mr. Wessel was a graduate of Central High School and St. Joseph Junior College, both in St. Joseph, Mo., and The American Academy of Art in Chicago. During his career as a commercial artist, he was a partner and art director at Fletcher, Wessel & Enright Advertising Inc. and later at Enright & Wessel Advertising Inc., both of St. Joseph, Mo.
Mr. Wessel and his family later moved to Atchison, Kan., where he and his wife, Nancy, became the owners of Waisner & Shelver, a ladies clothing and bridal store, where they operated the store for 17 years until their retirement in December of 1993.
Mr. Wessel was an avid watercolorist and sketch artist, who annually showed his work at the Atchison Riverbend Art Fair, where he won best of show and blue ribbons on several occasions. He was also involved in community theater in St. Joseph, Mo., where he had been president and a director and appeared in numerous plays and musicals. He also performed in a number of community theater plays and musicals at Theatre Atchison. He also achieved his scuba diving certification in his late 60s.
Mr. Wessel also served in the U.S. Marine Corps, receiving an honorable discharge after two years of service.
Most of his life was devoted to his loving wife of 61 years, Nancy, who survives of the home in Atchison. They spent many of their later years at their home in Hope Town, Abaco, Bahamas.
The couple had four children, all of whom survive: Nina Louise (Gerald) Schletzbaum, Good Intent, Kan.; William Christian (Noel) Wessel III, Jonesboro, Ark.; Lydia Elizabeth (Sam) Funk, Atchison; and Nanette Marie (George) Kissenberth, D.O., Warren, Vt. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Lauren Elizabeth (Tyson) Fitzpatrick, Mt. Vernon, Ind.; Madison Whitney Wood, Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Mary Kate and Garner Christian Funk, and William Christian Wessel IV, all of Atchison, Kan.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, at Trinity Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Andrew Grossso, as celebrant. Inurnment of the cremains will follow in Trinity Episcopal Garden. A reception will be held after the services at the church.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Trinity Episcopal Church, 300 N. Fifth St., Atchison, Kan., and may be left in care of Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home with who the final arrangement have been entrusted.
He was born May 14, 1928, in St. Joseph, Mo., to William C. and Etta Marie Withrow Wessel, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.
Mr. Wessel was married to Nancy Lou Keating on Nov. 1, 1952, at Christ Episcopal Church, St. Joseph, Mo. She survives of the home in Atchison, Kan.
Mr. Wessel was a graduate of Central High School and St. Joseph Junior College, both in St. Joseph, Mo., and The American Academy of Art in Chicago. During his career as a commercial artist, he was a partner and art director at Fletcher, Wessel & Enright Advertising Inc. and later at Enright & Wessel Advertising Inc., both of St. Joseph, Mo.
Mr. Wessel and his family later moved to Atchison, Kan., where he and his wife, Nancy, became the owners of Waisner & Shelver, a ladies clothing and bridal store, where they operated the store for 17 years until their retirement in December of 1993.
Mr. Wessel was an avid watercolorist and sketch artist, who annually showed his work at the Atchison Riverbend Art Fair, where he won best of show and blue ribbons on several occasions. He was also involved in community theater in St. Joseph, Mo., where he had been president and a director and appeared in numerous plays and musicals. He also performed in a number of community theater plays and musicals at Theatre Atchison. He also achieved his scuba diving certification in his late 60s.
Mr. Wessel also served in the U.S. Marine Corps, receiving an honorable discharge after two years of service.
Most of his life was devoted to his loving wife of 61 years, Nancy, who survives of the home in Atchison. They spent many of their later years at their home in Hope Town, Abaco, Bahamas.
The couple had four children, all of whom survive: Nina Louise (Gerald) Schletzbaum, Good Intent, Kan.; William Christian (Noel) Wessel III, Jonesboro, Ark.; Lydia Elizabeth (Sam) Funk, Atchison; and Nanette Marie (George) Kissenberth, D.O., Warren, Vt. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Lauren Elizabeth (Tyson) Fitzpatrick, Mt. Vernon, Ind.; Madison Whitney Wood, Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Mary Kate and Garner Christian Funk, and William Christian Wessel IV, all of Atchison, Kan.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, at Trinity Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Andrew Grossso, as celebrant. Inurnment of the cremains will follow in Trinity Episcopal Garden. A reception will be held after the services at the church.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Trinity Episcopal Church, 300 N. Fifth St., Atchison, Kan., and may be left in care of Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home with who the final arrangement have been entrusted.
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