Richard George (Dick) Wessels, 13 Dec 1943 - 13 Jun 2022

WESSELS, OTTEN, GORDA, REILLY, FEINBERG, WURDEMAN, LEE, TUDOR, THOMSEN, KREMER, WEBER, HARRIS

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 7/15/2022 at 14:15:13

Richard (Dick) G. Wessels, 78, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully Monday June 13, 2022 at his home after a short and courageous battle with cancer.

Visitation will be held at Cedar Memorial from 4-7 PM on Tuesday June 21. Celebration of life to follow the visitation at The Time Out Lounge.

Dick is survived by his wife Betty, children Todd (Monica) of South Amana, Michelle Otten (Mike), Punta Gorda, FL, Ladd (Alane) of Walford, Chadd of Fairfax, mother of their four children Sheri Wessels, stepdaughter Elise (Ben) Reilly, stepson Joseph Feinberg. Grandchildren; Nicolas, Samantha, Benjamen, Max, Zeb, Alysarose, Lillian, and Jayce, step grandchildren; Camron, Adaline, Payne, Sheldon and four great grandchildren. Siblings include Babe (Paul) Wurdeman, Ladd (Mary Lee), Judy (Chuck) Tudor, Deets Thomsen, Larry (Nina), Diane Harris, and Carmen Wessels. He is also survived by 28 nieces and nephews. Dick was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Lillian, brother Butch, sister Deb Kremer, nephews Marty Weber, Scott Tudor, Jeff (Smack) Wessels, brother-in-laws Ken Thomsen, Larry Harris, sister-in-law JoAnn Wessels.

Dick was born December 13, 1943 in Lamont, IA at home. He attended Lamont Community School graduating in 1962. He graduated from Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in 2003.

His career was spent as a supervisor at Allis Chalmers, P & H Harnischfeger, Rockwell Goss and Metro Harley Davidson.

A man of few words, "The Leader" Dick was truly a "one of a kind" that drew so many people to him. His passions included riding his Harley, cards and horse racing, love for sports, fishing, golfing, and having a beer with friends and family.

A special thanks to Avalon Hospice. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be left for the family at cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette on June 19, 2022.