Kenneth Laverne Wessel, 90, of Little Rock went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 7, 2026. He was born on September 24, 1936, in Blue Earth, Minnesota to the late Carl and Bernadene Wessel. Mr. Wessel was a proud businessman who operated his company for over 60 years up to the day of his passing. The fruits of his labor spread across every city and town in Arkansas. Large buildings, parking decks, bridges, schools, cellphone towers, parking lot lighting and many other structures – there’s a good chance he had a hand in the construction of something you use daily. When he wasn’t working you could find him hunting, fishing, or in his younger days, square dancing with the Yellow Rockers square dance group. In addition to his parents, Mr. Wessel was preceded in death by his daughter, Beverly Annette Rogers; grandson, Jason Mooney; and siblings, Gordon Wessel, Charles Wessel, James Willer, Roy Wessel, and Dee Shappell.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted wife of nearly 70 years, JoAnn (Hancock) Wessel; children, Kenneth Wayne Wessel (Pam) of Little Rock, Teresa Draper (Charles) of Bryant, and Ron Wessel (Lauri) of Mayflower; and grandchildren, Aaron Wessel (Jennifer), Bennett Sarver (Jake), Kenneth Casey Wessel, Madison Susoeff, Tristan Susoeff, Jessica Wessel, Lauren Tucker (Tyler) and Justin Wessel. He is also survived by his siblings, Ron David, Shirley Thompson, Kathy Goss, Connie Sullivan, Howard Haase and six great grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at Pinecrest Funeral Home Chapel, 7401 Highway 5 North, Alexander, Arkansas 72002. Interment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home, beginning at noon.
Arrangements are entrusted to Pinecrest Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 501-847-0265. Sign Mr. Wessel’s online guestbook at www.pinecrestfh.com
