Funeral services for Charles Harm Wessels will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 6, 2024 at Grace Methodist Church in Ruston, LA with Rev. Kevin Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.
In His Divine mercy, The Lord called Charles Harm Wessels, 89, of Ruston, LA, to his eternal home on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
He was born March 30, 1934, in Stuttgart, AR to Oscar Georg and Helen ‘Lena’ née Sartorius Wessels, growing up on a rice farm. Charles attended St. John’s Lutheran School in Stuttgart and was graduated from Linwood High School in Moscow, AR, where he played basketball, “never shirking his subjects” and served on student council. He spent his spare time working to save for a Ford Model A car earning him the nickname: “Hot Rod Charlie”. In his Senior year of 1952, he was named “Most Studious” and “The Executive Type”.
He married Wanda Marcelle Rice, August 23, 1953, and they were blessed with three children: Deborah, Carl, and Kenneth. They were married for 67 years. His family moved to Ruston in December 1971. He was active in the Lutheran Church, serving in various leadership roles. Later, he and Wanda joined Grace Methodist Church. The Ruston Lions Club awarded him Lion of the year, and the Ruston Chamber of Commerce named him Man of the year.
Charles Wessels was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Wanda, his brother, Robert Wessels and his sister, Ruby Poteet.
His professional career began in high school at Safeway grocery store. He was promoted over time to the position of store manager. He worked for Safeway for 38 years. He and Wanda later operated The Keg Package store in Grambling. They also operated together a successful real estate rental property business. In retirement, Charles continued to caretake their rental properties, enjoyed his lifetime love of fishing, spent time on his riding lawn mower and he spent time with family and friends.
Charles is survived by his children: Deborah Penny of Lombard, IL, Carl Wessels and wife Denise of Waxahachie, TX and Kenneth Wessels and wife Kay of Benton, LA; grandchildren: Jonathan Penny and wife Michelle, Maricatherine Finley and husband Jason, Billy Wessels and wife Shannon, Melanie Willoughby and husband Jake, Benjamin “Ben” Wessels, Kendra Linck and husband Cameron, and Courtney Wessels; great-grandchildren: William Penny, Charles Penny, Martin Penny, Thomas Finley and Baylor Linck; brothers: Lloyd Wessels of Rogers, AR and William “Bill” Wessels and wife Sheryl of Tyler, TX, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Serving as pallbearers will be Jonathan Penny, Maricatherine Finley, Billy Wessels, Ben Wessels, Kendra Linck, and Courtney Wessels.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Grace Methodist Church in Ruston, LA.
Special thanks to the loving team at The Arbor and Terrace of Ruston for their years of caring for Dad.
