Dec. 9, 1937 — June 30, 2017
Funeral Mass for Allan E. Wesselmann, 79 from Bancroft will be Thursday at St. John’s Catholic Church, Bancroft. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday at Oakcrest Funeral Services in Bancroft. A rosary will be held at 7 p.m. following the visitation on Wednesday. Interment will be held in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery with military honors.
Allan Edward Wesselmann, the son of John and Elizabeth (Detmer) Wesselmann, was born Dec. 9, 1937, in rural Bancroft. He attended and graduated from St. John’s Catholic High School in 1955.
He was inducted into the United States Navy in 1955, attending basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Chicago. He went on to attend military schooling in Norman, Okla., Jacksonville, Fla., and completed weapons training in Albuquerque, N.M. Allan was then stationed aboard the USS Hancock in San Diego, where he traveled to Hong Kong, Japan, and Hawaii. Also in 1955, Allan met a nice young woman named Harriet Feely.
On May 26, 1958, Allan and Harriet were married in East Chain, Minn., by his brother-in-law, Father Ted Feely. They moved back to his hometown of Bancroft, where they started farming. Allan had a great sense of humor, and was always telling jokes. He enjoyed playing cards, visiting with friends, and was an avid Minnesota Twins fan. Allan knew almost everyone in the community and was always friendly. He always said he believed in the three F’s; Faith, Family and Farming. Beside his loving wife, his pride and joy were his children and grandchildren and he always enjoyed attending their sporting activities. He raised livestock and was a grain farmer until he retired in 2010. Wanting to be closer with family, they moved to Le Mars, in 2016.
Allan Edward Wesselmann, died on Friday, June 30, 2017, at home with his family beside him. He was 79 years old.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Harriet Wesselmann of Le Mars, children, Ted Wesselmann of Storm Lake, Jim (Susanne) Wesselmann of Remsen, Mark Wesselmann of Truman, Minn., and Julie (Mark) Theisen of Le Mars; eleven grandchildren; two great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Joanne Wesselmann of Tama, Dodie (Burdean) Hartwig of Welcome, Minn., Barb (George) Welp of St. Paul; and Sharlene Feely of Blue Hill, Neb.; brothers-in-law, Tom (Linda) Feely of Fairmont, Minn., Pat (Gayle) Feely of Welcome, Minn. and Frank Feely of Lincoln, Neb.; as well as many other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; children, Larry and Maureen Wesselmann; sister, Leona Auten; brothers Vince, Arnie, Donald and Robert as well as his father and mother in-law, William and Dorothy Feely.
Oakcrest Funeral Services, www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com