Wessman, Richard F. (1915-2013)

WESSMAN, SWANSON, COHOON, BOSWELL, PEARCE, HAGENSON, BAIER, ACKERMAN, CRANE, HANSEN, RIFFLE, MAURER, GRAY

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 9/21/2013 at 21:31:53

Richard F. Wessman
March 12, 1915 - September 5, 2013

Richard F. Wessman, age 98, of Albert City, Iowa, died on Thursday, September 5, 2013, at the Pocahontas Community Hospital in Pocahontas, Iowa.

Richard Fredrick Wessman was born on March 12, 1915, in Wakefield, Nebraska, to Fredrick and Hilda (Swanson) Wessman. He was baptized at the Covenant Church in Wakefield. At the age of five, he moved with his family to Concord, Nebraska, where he was confirmed and became a member of the Free Church. After graduating from the eighth grade, he started to help out farmers in the area.

In 1938, Richard came to Iowa with friends to pick corn in the Albert City area. At this time, Nebraska was suffering from severe drought and crops were nearly nonexistent. He went with a crew up near the Canadian border to help thresh and, then, later to pick corn in Minnesota.

In 1939, Richard and three friends spent the winter in Brownsville, Texas, doing odd jobs and enjoying the warm weather before returning to the Albert City area to work for various farmers. He also worked at the Albert City Elevator one winter.

On November 23, 1944, Richard married Arlene Peterson and became a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Albert City. In 1948, he started farming for himself and all but for two years, the family lived on the same farm. A very organized farmer, he always said, “Let’s get this job done.”

An active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Richard also joined the Historical Association and served as president of the Young at Heart Club for nine years. In 1981, he retired and helped Arlene in the Albert City Floral Shop. He enjoyed delivering flowers on Mother’s Day the most because he always received a kiss from many an appreciative recipient.

For many years, Richard played on an Albert City horseshoe team. He loved to go fishing and to play cards with Arlene, his children, and grandchildren. In addition, he would always help his son on the farm whenever he needed an extra hand. He could not stand staying home or sitting still, except for fishing. He wanted to go to Pronto for coffee to see friends, go out to eat, or just go somewhere. Only old people sat at home doing nothing. He loved driving around outside in his golf cart. He was still tending his garden, watering the flowers, and filling the bird bath, and a month ago, he mowed the lawn. He had even raised some chickens and driven the corn picker after he turned 90. He and Arlene took many bus trips meeting new friends and plane trips visiting their children. He loved his family and always said, “I love you,” when they called or had to go home.

Richard’s family will always love and cherish his life. They include his wife of sixty-eight years, Arlene Wessman, of Albert City, Iowa; his children: Rosemary Cohoon, of Norman, Oklahoma, Annette Boswell, of Portland, Oregon, Dee Pearce (Jeff Gibbons), of Scottsdale, Arizona, Tom Wessman (Jodie Morin), of Albert City, Iowa, Patty (Marc) Hagenson, of Tempe, Arizona, and Linda (Bruce) Baier, of Alta, Iowa; his son-in-law, Nick Ackerman, of Storm Lake, Iowa; his grandchildren: Kerry, Kert (Tracy), and Kris Cohoon; Michael (Stephanie) Ackerman; Michelle (Ben) McCollum; Tokey (Eileen) Boswell; Addie (Adam) Crane; Meghan and Jessica Pearce; Heidi and Calvin Hagenson; Ben and Jamie Baier; and Jessie (Kyle) Hansen; nine great grandchildren; and a sister, Arlene Riffle, of Perry, Iowa; as well as extended family members and many friends.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Magnhild; a brother, Eugene; two sisters and their husbands, Amelie and Donald Maurer and Marion and Floyd Gray; his brother-in-law, Gordon Riffle; his daughter, Anita Louise Ackerman; and his granddaughter, Andrea Louise Ackerman.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 10, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Albert City. Burial will be in the Fairfield Township Cemetery in Albert City. Visitation will take place Monday, September 9, 2013, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City is in charge of the arrangements.

Blessed be the memory of Richard Wessman.

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