Grant Wessling
Grant Wessling
Atkins
Grant Wessling, age 94, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 5, 2024, at the Keystone Nursing Care Center, with his loving family by his side.
Private Family Funeral services will be held at St. John Lutheran Church in Newhall, with Rev. Nick Palmer and Rev. Steven Rempfer officiating. Interment will be held at St. John Cemetery, Newhall. A Celebration of Grant’s life will be held from 3:00 until 6:00 PM, Monday, August 19, 2024, also at the church. A memorial fund has been established.
Grant was born on April 23, 1930, in rural Marengo, the son of William and Ethel (Walter) Wessling. He graduated from Marengo High School, where he was elected Homecoming King. Grant attended Parson’s College in Fairfield, where he played football. Grant served his Country in the National Guard for 3 years. On August 30, 1952, he was united in marriage to Lois Schminke at St. John Lutheran Church in Newhall.
Grant worked at Iowa Manufacturing for 45 years. Grant matured while living out an adventurous childhood in and around small-town Marengo, and it was at a Marengo big day celebration that he met his wife Lois. Together they loved to go to small town dances, go to church where Grant would read the lessons of the service, hit the road and travel- often to see and support their 4 boys and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their numerous sports & interests, and occasionally to stop into casinos to press his luck- often with success (and equal discipline)! Grant combined that luck with even greater skill in being a sure shot hunter, fisherman, golfer, avid morel mushroom finder, and all-around sports player- notably his favorite sport baseball where he humbly displayed a contract he received from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He would commonly relax after work by hitting “infield” to his sons.
To those who knew him, Grant was an ageless wonder of activity, never able to sit still and always moving, attending to all matters on his farm, creating magical outdoor experiences for those who visited, growing and canning all types of foods out of his garden, and brewing his own legendary wine. He had great respect for nature, and a native spirit connection to the earth. He resisted ever showing any weakness yet maintained calm confidence & knowledge towards any subject matter. It was hard to find anyone who did not respect him, particularly because he would always display the utmost humility, rarely willing to spotlight his own individual accomplishments. Though soft spoken, when he did speak the words were full of significant & insightful life lessons, or colorful & entertaining old stories.
Always living with integrity and operating with such honorable character, he emphasized personal responsibility, and exemplified kindness & dignity in all situations. Outpouring his love toward his vast family was what brought Grant the most joy. He will be greatly missed, yet the impact and influence he had on us all will infinitely live on like the streams of nature he so dearly loved.
He is survived by his wife of almost 72 years, Lois; 4 sons, married to 4 fantastic women, Doug, and Debra (Weichman) Wessling, Dave, and Kathy (Stumpff) Wessling, Tom, and Sara (Feuerbach) Wessling, William, and Kay (Fritcher) Wessling; 9 grandchildren, Heidi (Scott), Heath, Rachelle (Stu), Brooke (Scott), Erin (Tony), Carrie, Abby (Dillon), Wade (Katie), and Brad; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Richard, and James Wessling; and 2 sisters, Shirley Leischenring, and Joyce “Teri” Ferguson.
Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com