Garner Elmer Wessman (1920-1989)

WESSMAN, DAHLBERG, LAGRANGE, RISDAL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/14/2026 at 18:06:56

From [Ames] Daily Tribune December 15, 1989 (page 9)

Garner E. Wessman
Sept. 14, 1920-Dec. 13, 1989

Garner E. Wessman, 69, 2644 Cleveland Drive, died Wednesday of heart failure at Mary Greeley Medical Center. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Ames Municipal Cemetery.

Garner Wessman was born in Cokato, Minn., to Elmer and Esther (Dahlberg) Wessman. He lived in Ames for 29 years and was employed at the National Animal disease Center as a microbiologist for 24 years, retiring in 1985. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army.

In October 1943, he married Shirley LaGrange in Early. She preceded him in death in October 1966. On Aug. 29, 1969, he married Geraldine Risdal in Missouri. He graduated from Buena Vista College and received a doctorate from Iowa State University in 1952. He was a member of The American Society for Microbiology.

Survivors include his wife, Geraldine; four sons, Stephen of Ames, Scott of Alexandria, Va., Jon of Hollandale, Miss., and Neil of Champaign, Ill.; one daughter, Ann Wessman of Ames; four stepchildren; two brothers, Gaylon of Cerritos, Calif.; and Laurel of Fontana, Calif.; and three sisters, Virgene of Fullerton, Calif., Marvis of Alta and Vernette of Edina, Minn.

Visitation will be this evening Friday, Dec. 15, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Stevens Memorial Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be given to the American Cancer Society.