Charlotte Wessel

CHAFFEE -- Charlotte S. Wessel, 82, died July 1, 2002, at her home after a four-year battle with cancer.

Born Jan. 18, 1920, at Gordonville, daughter of the late William and Emma Hager Gross, she was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville. She attended Cape Girardeau Schools and graduated from the Cape Girardeau School of Beauty Culture. She was employed at Altha Beauty School in Bonne Terre until her marriage.

On Aug. 2, 1944, at Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville, she married Clarence "Gus" Wessel who survives of the home.

The Wessel family moved to Chaffee in 1955, where Charlotte was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. A lifetime member of the Ladies Aid of which she served as president for 25 years, she was a member of Lutheran Women's Missionary League.

While raising four sons, Charlotte was very active in PTA and the Youth Baseball League. For many years, even after her own sons graduated, she supported many activities, especially the Chaffee Public School's sports program. She was employed at Shell's Beauty Shop until her retirement.

Charlotte's focus in life was to be a loving and supportive wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. She was known to always put others before herself, whether it was her family or her neighbors. Charlotte had great pride for her sons and their families and accomplishments. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren who spend a great deal of time with "Grandpa" and her. They enjoyed many drives and activities on Sundays, went on camping trips, attended ballgames and school functions. Charlotte enjoyed gardening, baking and collecting redbirds.

In addition to her husband she is survived by: four sons and daughters-in-law, Jack and Sue Bond Wessel and Chris and Rhonda Glastetter Wessel of rural Gordonville and Michael and Linda Cunningham Wessel and Terry and Janet Spane Cook Wessel of Chaffee; and eight grandchildren and their spouses, Greg and Kristin Wessel Farmer of Orlando, Fla., Todd Wessel, Brent Wessel and Emma Wessel of rural Gordonville, Steven and Jill Graham Wessel of Effingham, Ill., Jamie Wessel and fiance Shawn Nix of Madill, Okla., Theresa Wessel Dunning of Jackson and Brad Wessel of Cape Girardeau; one great-granddaughter, MacKenzie Dunning; three step grandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two brothers.

Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chaffee, where services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Revs. Wayne Schweisow and Karl Leeman will officiate. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee is in charge of arrangements.

Burial will follow in the Union Park Cemetery in Chaffee.

Pallbearers will be: Steven Wessel, Brad Wessel, Todd Wessel, Brent Wessel, Kevin Gross, David Herbst, Bob Chapman and James R. Stephens.

Memorial contributions may be sent to:

Chaffee High School Alumni Association P.O. Box 172 Chaffee, MO 63740

or

St. Paul's Ladies Aid 201 Gray St. Chaffee, MO 63740

Paid obituary