Obituary of Norma Lee Wessels

Norma L. Wessels, 85, of Dyersville, Iowa died peacefully at home Tuesday, February 2, 2010. Friends may call from 2 - 7 p.m. Sunday, February 7, 2010 at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa where a parish scripture service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 8, 2010 at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Robert Gross. Norma was born on July 14, 1924, in Marceline, MO, the daughter of Ervin and Lucy (Lake) Dorrell. In 1942, she moved to California with her family. Along with many women of that time, she found work with Consolidated Aircraft, riveting in the wings of B-24 bombers that were used during WWII. While attending a dance, Norma met Don Wessels. They were married on April 25, 1944, in Marceline, MO, and later settled in Dyersville. Norma had a special love for children, especially babies. She was an excellent cook and quickly mastered the art of homemaking. While raising eleven children, she spent her "free time" sewing, embroidering, reading, dancing and the occasional trip to the casino or playing bingo. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Parish, the American Legion Auxiliary and a regular sponsor to St. Jude's Hospital. Those left to honor her memory are 11 of her 12 children: Linda Wessels of Dyersville, IA, Gladys Wessels, Helen (Tom) Urban, both of Dubuque, IA, Susan (Sergio) Trujillo, Lola (Tim Conovaloff) Wessels and Lois (Clayton) Machado, all of Yuma, AZ, Dean (Jane), Sam, Sandy (Mario) Blasi and Dan, all of Dyersville, Terry (Mary Ann "Charlie") of Arlington, TX, 19 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren; 1 sister, Doris (Bud) Yarbrough of Hemet, CA, 1 brother, J.W. Dorrell of Marceline, MO; brothers-and-sisters-in-law: Sr. Mary David Wessels, OSF, of Dubuque and Emma Wessels of Dyersville; 1 brother-in-law, John Fitzgerald of Dyersville, IA. She was preceded in death by her husband Donald in 2003, a daughter, Frances Mary in infancy, a granddaughter, Angie, 2 brothers: Clarence and Leland Dorrell and a sister, Eileen Bishop. Norma's family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Hospice of Dubuque.