Glorene K. Wychel

Glorene made her transition to her everlasting resting place on Thursday, September 4, 2025. She was born in St. Louis, MO the 4th of 5 children to Glorena Deuser and Ernest Portmann. She graduated from Clayton High School in Clayton, MO in 1948 where she was mostly interested in playing any and all sports including basketball, field hockey, volleyball and softball.

She began working in an office in St. Louis where she met her future husband, Arnold Wychel, and they were married in September 1950.

In February 1956, a job offer in California was accepted and a cross-country adventure began and the family settled in Santa Clara. Resurrection Lutheran Church became the family’s spiritual home and center of many activities. There were continuous camping and fishing trips throughout California and she led the evening gathering around the campfire playing the banjo and we all sang along. A continuous stream of family members wishing to visit and see California arrived frequently.

In April 1967 there was another job change and the whole family moved to Wilmington, NC where Messiah Lutheran Church became our new spiritual home. The family helped the church grow from a storefront on Wrightsville Avenue to its present location on S College Road. Glorene was a faithful attendee, enjoyed praising her Lord through worship, and was a longtime member of the choir. She was a dedicated volunteer for any activities serving the church and community.

Glorene was also a volunteer with the NC Jazz Festival in Wilmington for more than 20 years, meeting with the planning committee and manning the hospitality room for the musicians during the festival.

Did someone say bridge? Glorene was an avid bridge player and enjoyed many marathon games in the neighborhood along with weekend and weeklong trips to destinations on the east coast with her bridge friends. She was also involved with several duplicate bridge groups through the years and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and camaraderie there and at the Senior Center.

She also helped with the fledgling UNC-W soccer team in 1973 on which her son played; and provided room and board for 2 premiere soccer players recruited from Maryland when only small scholarships were available. There were many soccer players in and around the house to visit or share a meal for many years after that initial start.

Glorene was preceded in death by her parents, brother William (Billy) Portmann, sisters Jeanette Graeser (Carl) and LaFern Schmittel (Wilbert), sister-in-law Betty Portmann, nephew Gary Graeser (Cheryl), and the father of her children Arnold L. Wychel.

Glorene is survived by her brother James L. Portmann of St Louis, MO, her son David Wychel and wife Kerry Webster of Wilmington, NC, daughter Barbara W. Arndt Matthews and husband Ed of Conover, NC; grandchildren Ben Arndt and wife Andrea of Sherrills Ford, NC and Brad Arndt and wife Rakhi of Kensington, MD; great-grandchildren Garrison, Ela and Colson Arndt; nephews Randy Schmittel of Maryland Heights, MO and Jay Graeser (Shelley) of Sullivan, MO; along with many other cousins and extended family members living in the greater St .Louis area.

A special thanks goes out to the caring nurses and staff at NHRMC, Life Care Services of the Lower Cape Fear, New Hanover Senior Nutrition Services and Meals on Wheels volunteers.

Donations in her memory may be made to Messiah Lutheran Church, 3302 S College Road, Wilmington NC 28412 or Lower Cape Fear Life Care, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401

A service will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church 3302 S College Road on Friday, September 19th at 10 am.

A graveside service for Glorene will be held Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM, at St. Paul's Evangelical Cemetery, Olive Blvd, Olivette, MO 63132.