Stuart Alan Wetzel

Stuart Alan Wetzel, Jr. (Alan) died peacefully on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, surrounded by his three sons, of complications from COVID-19. He had just turned 91. His wife, Sheryl Ann Wetzel (74), died a month earlier.

Even though they were both fully vaccinated, they tragically contracted breakthrough cases of the coronavirus. The couple were just three weeks short of celebrating their 50th anniversary. Alan fought valiantly to recover and spent some six weeks in the hospital. He died hours after entering hospice.

Alan is survived by four children, Rick Wetzel, 69 (Mary Kelly), Kathryn Robyn, 67 (Barbaría Maria), Rob Wetzel, 63 (Tricia), and Tim Wetzel, 43; and four grandchildren, Caitlin Andersen (Eric), Emily Smith (Jordan), Will Wetzel and Luke Wetzel.

Born October 1, 1930, in St. Louis, Alan graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia, where he was president of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and made lifelong friends. In 1953, he enlisted as an officer in the United States Navy and served during the Korean War. He was also a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve. After long careers in the lumber industry and investment banking, Alan retired from his position as senior vice president of A. G. Edwards and Sons Inc. in the late 1990s. In 2001, he and Sheryl moved to Florida, where they lived along the water in both Naples and Vero Beach. In late 2019, the couple relocated to Dallas to be closer to their son, Tim. Alan and Sheryl lived in Ventana by Buckner, a high-rise luxury retirement community where they met many new friends.

Alan loved to play golf, root for the Missouri Tigers, sing along with Frank Sinatra and raise a glass of scotch with family and friends. He read history books and mystery novels when he wasn’t watching sports on TV, boasting in July that he’d read 48 books since the start of the pandemic.

A private memorial service for Alan and Sheryl Wetzel will be held on November 13 for family members and residents of the Ventana community. Condolences for the family may be offered at dignitymemorial.com. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Alan’s name to the charity of your choice. The family strongly encourages you and your loved ones to get the COVID-19 vaccine and wear masks when close to others. You never know who might be vulnerable, as Alan and Sheryl were.