Joseph Wetzel

Joseph Francis Wetzel, age 88, of Marietta, Georgia, passed away on December 3, 2025. Born in 1937, he was the son of the late George Wetzel and Mary Leahy Wetzel. Joe shared his lifelong love and devotion to his wife, June Leslie Wetzel for 63 years.

Joe attended The West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys and then served four years in the US Air Force and four years in the reserves. Joe was a graduate of La Salle University in Philadelphia with a double major in French and Spanish, minor in philosophy. He did his graduate work at the University of Kansas on a three-year fellowship to study French, Spanish and Linguistics, and carried his love of learning throughout his life. He was in academia for 15 years, teaching mainly French Literature at the University of South Carolina and then worked 20 years as President of the US division of an Italian granite machinery company, which provided him the opportunity to become fluent in Italian, plus he did considerable travelling often outside the US, including Italy, Germany, France, Spain, among others countries. He became fluent in French, Spanish, Italian, and German languages.

Curious, thoughtful, and endlessly interested in the world around him, he enjoyed keeping up with scientific discoveries, the latest technologies, enjoyed reading books in various foreign languages, poetry, history, philosophy, and politics. He also enjoyed writing, cycling, speaking engagements, traveling and singing. His passion for history and heritage inspired him to author the book Our Unique Heritage, a 2017 book of historical essays that examines foreign and domestic influences on American Government and culture. He was a long-time member of the Nature Coast Unitarian Universalist Church.

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his beloved wife, June Leslie Wetzel and his siblings George Wetzel, John Wetzel and Ellen Estock. He is survived by his sister, Anna Tierney; his daughter, Lisa Gantt (Jimmy) and his son Bill Wetzel (Gail); and his beloved grandchildren: Christian Gantt (Megan), Leslie DeVries (Matt) and Lauren Maples (Rob). He will be remembered with great affection by his family and all who knew him.

A celebration of life to honor Joseph Wetzel will be held Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at H.M. Patterson Canton Hill Funeral Home (1157 Old Canton Road Marietta, Georgia 30068) followed by a reception, and a private family burial at Georgia National Cemetery (2025 Mount Carmel Church Lane, Canton, Georgia 30114) at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Parc at Piedmont in memory of Joe Wetzel at 999 Hood Road, Marietta, Georgia 30068.

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