Obituary of Jimmy A. Wessels

Surviving are his wife, Emma; 3 daughters: Gayle (Dean) Erschen of Zimmerman, MN, Gwenn (John) Evers and Gloria Knepper of Dyersville, IA; 6 grandchildren: Karmen (Steve) Wilhelm of Marion, IA, Kourtney (Brent) Carlson of West Des Moines, IA, Kurt Kramer of Dyersville, IA, Nathan Knepper of Ottumwa, IA, Emily Knepper of Des Moines, IA, and Melanie Knepper of Cedar Falls, IA; 4 great-grandchildren, Spencer Wilhelm, Emma Carlson, Alec and Reece Knepper; 3 sisters: Delores Pfohl and Sr. Mary David Wessels, both of Dubuque, IA, and LuAnn Reicher of Dyersville, IA. Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers: Iranous, Clarence, Ralph and Don Wessels, and 3 sisters: Isabelle Engelken, Marcella Krapfl and Gene Fitzgerald. He served his country in WWII, enlisting in the U.S. Army in September of 1940. He went overseas on August of 1942, where he served nearly three years-without furlough-in the 804th Tank Destroyer Battalion in the African and European Campaigns in Ireland, England, Africa and Italy. While in Italy, he was fortunate to have had an audience with the Pope. He returned to the United States May of 1945 and was the first serviceman from the Dubuque County area to be discharged on the point system. Jimmy was born May 29, 1920 in Petersburg, Iowa, the son of Henry J. and Antonette (Tegeler) Wessels. He married Emma Bockenstedt May 12, 1947. A retired carpenter and a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother, he will be sadly missed by many. Jimmy was a member of the St. Francis Xavier Parish, a life member and past commander of the American Legion Post 137, a life member of V.F.W. Post 7736, a former member and past Chef de'Gare of the 40&8 Voiture 632, of Dubuque, a member-carpenter of Union Local 678, a former member of the Eagles Club, and past president of the Retired Eagles Activity Club of Dubuque.