Edward William Wessel

Ed was the third born son of Mildred B (nee Frazer) and Oliver F. Wessel on September 28, 1943. He graduated from Ferguson High School in 1962. As a young man and through the balance of his life he enjoyed baseball, bowling, fishing and hunting with family and friends. His first job was as a route driver for Canteen Vending Machine Company. A couple of years later he joined his dad and Uncle Edgar at the St. Louis Plant of Mallinckrodt Chemical Works on Salisbury Street. It was there that his co-workers endeared him with the nickname Hot Dog. He retired thirty-eight years later in October of 2005.

Ed first met his wife, Donna (nee Jenkins), on a blind date arranged by a close buddy and his girlfriend in 1962 and married four years later in February 1966. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2016 and their 60th this past February. They raised two handsome, hardworking sons. Ed enjoyed vacation trips with the boys, family birthday and holiday celebrations. Another passion was evenings spent at both Fairmount and Cahokia Racetracks enjoying thoroughbred horse and buggy racing and numerous trips with friends to the greyhound dog races in West Memphis. The memorable road and flying trips to Las Vegas with close friends was always a special delight. There were fishing trips to Bull Shoals and Table Rock Lake and many other small lakes in our area. Each succeeding group gathering was a joyous occasion with remembered stories being told one after the other followed by rollicking laughter.

Ed was preceded in death by this father, Oliver, his mother, Mildred, his oldest brother Oliver (Ollie), his wife Katherine (nee Devening). He is survived by his wife, Donna, his sons John Paul and Jeffrey Scott, his brother Ronald E. Wessel (Sandra), his cousins Jean (nee Wessel) Hinchcliff (Sam), Debbie (nee Wessel) Bahr and a myriad of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He will be remembered for his smiling face and his pleasant manner.