EUGENE L. "GENE" WESSELS

Eugene L. “Gene” Wessels, 82 of Rolla, formerly of Warwick and Devils Lake, ND passed away on Saturday evening, November 21, 2015 at Presentation Medical Center, Rolla, ND. Funeral Services for Gene will be held on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Warwick Lutheran Church, Warwick ND with Reverend John Monson officiating. Burial will be in the Tolna Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by the Tolna American Legion Post #162 and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held at Warwick Lutheran Church on Wednesday one hour prior to the funeral service. Eugene Lambert, son of Hye and Ragna (Skogley) Wessels was born on December 10, 1932 on the family farm, rural Tolna, ND. He attended a country school in the Tolna area and at the age of 17 enlisted in the United States Army. On September 8, 1950 Gene entered the US Army and proudly served his country on the front lines of Korea during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on September 7, 1953 at Fort Sherman with the rank of Corporal. After discharge, Gene married Lorraine DeCoteau and they established their home in Devils Lake and they were the proud parents of three children Gene Jr., Wade and Nicole and they later were blessed to add a son, Jamie to the family. Gene worked for George Durbin, a local concrete company, Hulstrand Construction out of Lakota and several area farmers. In 1975, the family moved to rural Rolla and Gene made Rolla his home until his death. He worked for many years at the Rolla Farmers Union and also for the Garrison and Bromberg family farms in the St. John, ND area. Lorraine passed away in 1983. Gene worked hard to provide for his family and was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother. He loved every kind of animal, big or small, and made sure they were cared for and loved and would make sure they were fed even before himself. He was an avid gardener, especially talented at growing tomatoes. He enjoyed time with his grandkids playing cars and cards. Gene is survived by his children Gene Wessels Jr., Spokane, WA, Nicole Wessels, Grand Forks and Jamie and his wife Lindsay Wessels of Rolla; step daughter Vicky Jeanotte, Belcourt; twenty grandchildren; five great grandchildren; sister Margaret Braaten and her companion Robert LaMotte of Devils Lake and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Lorraine; son Wade Wessels; step daughter Nora Thesing; brothers Henry, Arney, Don, Ray and Lester Wessels; sister Myrtle Nelson and several step brother and step sisters. Casket Bearers for Gene will be Desiree Johnston, Brittany Johnston, Zachary Johnston, Randy Wessels, Robert Nelson and Sam DeCoteau.