Robert Irving WESSEL

WESSEL, JEFFORDS, IRWIN, SCHULER, KROESCHELL, ELLARSON, ESCHBACH, DODGE, ERICKSON, POLICASTRI

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/19/2015 at 00:45:39

March 7, 1926 --- September 24, 2015

It is fitting that the beginning of the end of Bob Wessel's life started in Canada in his beloved cabin after spending a week with family. He fell and broke his hip. Bob loved to travel and had visited and/or lived in Denmark, Spain, Italy, Germany, England, The Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, and the Azores (Port.). But he felt most content in his cabin on Eagle River in Canada.

He loved the untarnished and undeveloped home away from home. He could sit on the dock or in a boat for hours fishing. It didn't matter whether he caught a fish, he just wanted to be there.

Robert Irving Wessel passed away Sept. 24 from complications from surgery from his fall in August. Bob was born on March 7, 1926 in Manson, Iowa. He was the son of Bessie (Jeffords) and Lawrence Wessel, a carpenter. The fifth in a family of 10 children raised during the depression, he spent much of his early childhood in Belmond, Iowa. The Wessel family moved to Ames in 1939. In 1944 Bob graduated from Ames High School; in 1952 he received a BA in history from ISU; an MA in history from ISU and in 1966, he received his PhD. from the University of Minnesota. He returned to teach at ISU from 1967 - 1987. He retired to teach on military bases in Europe.

"The fact that a great many people believe something is no guarantee of its truth." -W. Somerset Maugham, The Razor's Edge. Bob related to this book as he spent much time in self-reflection and wanderlust.

Bob didn't want us to talk about his degrees and he was happy not to use the title "Dr." He loved to teach; he loved to travel, he loved left-leaning politics and he loved his family: wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and more. Bob's family extended well beyond blood.

He had a heart for those who had less than him. As a child, he did not know, from day to day, if he would have food to eat. Bob's biggest fear was that the generations to come would forget what it was like to go hungry. He was passionate about serving the poor, worked for civil rights for all and was passionate about preserving the environment.

Following high school, Bob joined that Army Air Corps but failed to find meaning as a nose gunner. He concluded that war is not the answer and became a peace activist. He challenged the US involvement in VietNam and elsewhere.

In addition to his time in Canada, Bob had a deep love for travel and in particular cherished the time he spent in Denmark and Turkey. He often pointed out the things that most affected his life: his childhood during the Depression, where he saw and felt what poverty was; his years in the army at the end of World War II, where he saw and came to believe in the idea of rules for rules sake as meaningless; and his year in Denmark (1949-1950) where he learned what it means for the government to take responsibility for the health and care of all of its citizens. It was in Denmark that he found his political place and it was from these things his life grew.

In 1973 Bob and Edith took the family to Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Germany so he could introduce his family to his love of travel and the ability to appreciate and love other cultures.

As a part of his commitment to others, Bob, and his beloved wife Edith, were active in their church life, pushing the church to be more involved in caring for others through food banks or homeless shelters, always believing that in Christ we are called to serve. In all ways his life reflected his respect and compassion for people of all faiths and economic resources.

Bob was a voracious reader, loved classical music, strong cheese, Greek salads and a good argument. He was a compassionate contrarian.

At the center of Bob's life was his family. He met his Edith at a Lutheran Student Association meeting in 1951. They were married for more than 63 years.

Bob is survived by his children Keith Wessel (Lori) of Madison, Wisconsin, and their blended family including sons, Sven Irwin (wife Heather, daughters Kinley, Kianna), Erik Irwin (wife Chelsea, daughters Aishe, Jayla and Avannah) and Matthew; Ellen Schuler (Jeff) of Stevens Point, Wisconsin and their daughters Eleni (husband Will, son Asher), Hannah and Sophie; Beth Wessel Kroeschell (Tom) of Ames, Iowa, their daughter Liza and son Robbie; Cheryl Wessel of Oak Harbor, Ohio and her daughter Kiri; Joanne Ellarson of Mazomanie, Wisconsin and her sons Wesley and Casey. Bob is also survived by his sisters Katherine Eschbach of Ames, Betty Dodge and Donna Erickson of Shawnee, Oklahoma and a brother Tom Wessel of Bozeman, Montana. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Carrol, Clair, Chester and James Wessel and sister Helen Policastri.

Memorials may be given to Emergency Housing in Ames, Doctors Without Borders or a charity of your choice . A visitation will be held at St. Andrews Church in Ames Sunday, Sept. 27 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. A celebration of life service will be held at 11 am Monday, Sept. 28 at the St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Ames.

Des Moines Register - Iowa
September 26, 2015