BANKS, Wesley 1924-2003

BANKS , WHITE

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/1/2009 at 12:53:57

Wesley R. "Wes" Banks, 78, of #3 Lions Dr., Charles City, died early Saturday morning, April 26, 2003, at his home.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2003, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 106 Chapel Lane in Charles City, with Rev. Msgr. Stanley J. Hayek officiating. Interment with military rites will be at Calvary Cemetery, Charles City.

The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 28, 2003, with a vigil prayer service beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St., Charles City. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service time at the church. Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may direct them to the Wesley "Wes" Banks Memorial Fund.

Wesley Raymond Banks was born September 25, 1924 in Charles City to James Edward and Elsie Faye (White) Banks. He attended school and was a lifelong resident of Charles City.

He enlisted into the U.S. Army and was in the 390th anti-aircraft artillery battalion and was stationed in England and France. Upon receiving a wounded arm in the service, Wes was honorably discharged and returned home on the Queen Mary. He was merited with a Purple Heart. Returning home, Wes fell in love with Bonnie Jean Snyder and began work at Lindaman Dairy and at Wonder Bread. Wesley and Bonnie were married at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in 1946. The couple were blessed with raising five children.

Wes took great pleasure and pride in providing for his family. He became the owner/operator of Banks Ambulance, Wrecker Service and Car Wash. The car wash was the first in Charles City. He later sold the business. He worked for Dore Wrecking Co. following the tornado of May 1968. In 1979, Wes acquired a Union 76 convenience store and car wash. Bonnie and Wes made a decision to sell the convenience store and move to the San Diego area where they managed apartment complexes for the next three years. Following their return to Charles City, Wes was employed for four years as a custodian at NIACC in Mason City. He was employed part time, at the time of his death, with Nelson Auto and Tire.

Some of Wes' interests, passions and leisure activities included playing golf, dining on his favorite meal of steak and potatoes, cheering on the Chicago Cubs, socializing with friends at the Elks Club, deer and elk hunting in Wyoming and Montana. Wes continued to remain active playing baseball and at the age of 66, hit a crowd-pleasing home run during an Old Timers game in Charles City. He lovingly treasured time spent with his entire family and looked forward to their traditional "Family Biscuit Club" Sunday mornings after church.

Wesley will be missed dearly by family and friends who shared in his life. Wes is survived by his wife, Bonnie; their five children, Vickie Shollenbarger and her husband, Dennis, of Charles City; Karen Holzer and her husband, Ray, of Charles City; Robin Tegtmeier and her husband, Brian, of Louisville, Ky.; Denny Banks and his wife, Barbara, of Charles City; and Faron Banks and his wife, Jill, of Charles City. Twelve grandchildren, Tina Nelson and her husband, Bret; Tony Shollenbarger; Jeff Holzer and his wife Angie; Jodi Page and her husband, Jason; Jill Jespersen and her husband, Scott; Kelli and Nick Tegtmeier; Nicole Davis and her husband, Mike; Marty Banks, Kiley Banks, Cody Banks, and Caleb Banks. He will also be sadly missed by thirteen great grandchildren; three sisters, Mildred Hess and her husband, George of Warren, Minn.; Gladys Courrier of Rush City, Minn. and Viola Krumrey of Charles City and one brother, Dale Banks and his wife, Carol, of Finland, Minn.. Wes was preceded in death by his parents; an infant granddaughter, Tami Shollenbarger and two brothers, William and Arlin "Barney" Banks.