Waltraud Anna Wessels

Trudy was born in Ritterhude Germany in 1930, married her husband, Hans, and then together they immigrated to the United States in 1956. They were married for 70 years until Hans’s death in December 2024.

Over the years Trudy and Hans owned many different businesses and always worked together side by side.

They both loved living in America and made a wonderful life here, truly living out their American dream.

Trudy and Hans were avid boaters since their time in Germany and enjoyed cruising and taking trips on their boat, especially once they moved to Florida in 1976. They took pleasure in traveling and went to so many places in the world and across the United States.

Trudy was extremely creative; an amazing seamstress with some of her fashions shown at local fashion shows, she made beautiful stained glass art, jewelry, and loved crafting, gardening,and she was an excellent cook and hostess. She was also a musician and played the accordion and the organ.

She was a member of many organizations and did volunteer work for groups such as the Shriners.

Trudy also loved to dance with her favorite partner, Hans. Any chance they had you would see them out on the dance floor, Trudy being spun around the dance floor with a big, lovely smile on her face. During family gatherings she would always join in whether it was games or dancing and laughing.

Trudy was beloved by her family and her smile, laughter and sense of fun and adventure will be incredibly missed.

Trudy is survived by her daughters Sonja Reed (husband, Jeff) and Christine Wessels; her brother Helmut Buchholz of Port St Lucie, FL, and sister Marliese Gusek of Ritterhude, Germany; her grandsons Nathan Reed (wife Lindsay) and Kyle Reed (wife Clary), and her three great grandchildren Kason, Cameron and Chance.

There will be a private family celebration of life