Daniel A. “Pete” Wetzel, 65 of Oberon, ND died on Sunday evening, October 19, 2008 at Mercy Hospital with his loving family at his bedside.
Mass of Christian Burial for Pete will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Charles Leute O.P. will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Oberon, ND. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Gerald A. Haskins Post #122, Oberon American Legion and the Lake Region Honor Guard, Camp Grafton.
Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Scripture Service and time of sharing at 7:30 p.m. Visitation on Thursday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.
Serving as Casket Bearers for Pete will be Gradyn Albrecht, Buck Joramo, Verne Lee, Jim “Wishbone” Howard, Clint Campbell, Dean Swenson, Craig Poulsen, Kinley Poulsen, Aaron Taylor and Dan Dosch.
Honorary Bearers will be All of Pete’s old friends, neighbors, co-workers and the Ye Olde Tavern Bunch.
Music will be provided by Dean Swenson, soloist.
Reading the Scriptures will be Cindy Wetzel
Daniel A. Wetzel was born on February 16, 1943 at Devils Lake, ND the son of Albert L. and Arlene (Paulson) Wetzel. He grew up on the farm northeast of Oberon and this farm was now his family’s home at the time of his death. He attended school in Oberon and graduated from Oberon High School in the class of 1961. He then began working for the Farmers Union Oil Company in Oberon until his entry into the United States Army on April 6, 1965. He served his country during the Vietnam War in Ft. McClelland, Alabama, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Ft. Ben Harrison, Indiana where he also attended finance school and at Ft. Leonard wood, Missouri. Pete was honorably discharged on April 7, 1967 from Ft. McClelland with the rank of Specialist 4. After his discharge he worked in Renton, Washington for a time until returning to Oberon where he made his home through the years. He worked at a variety of jobs including farm laborer for several area farmers, trucking for Equity Elevator, carpenter and employee of Farmers Union Elevator in Oberon. From 1981 to 2007, Pete worked at the Sheyenne Sand and Gravel until health problems forced him to retire. Pete was united in marriage to Patricia Donadio on July 20th, 1979 at Aberdeen, South Dakota and they lived, worked and raised their family in the Oberon area.
Pete served on the Oberon School Board and also the Wildlife Board in Sheyenne. He was a member of the Oberon American Legion where he served as Commander and also served with the Honor Guard. He was also a member of the New Rockford Eagles Club, the 40 & 8 and the AMVETS in Fargo.
Pete had many hobbies which he enjoyed, but hunting and fishing were certainly favorites. He loved to cook and considered himself a “gourmet chef” when it came to cooking “Rocky Mountain Oysters”. In his younger days, he enjoyed playing softball and trap shooting.
And what can we say about his wonderful sense of humor, that twinkle in his eye except to share his legacy of humor and love in what he wanted as his final quote. “Let it be said, I spent time chasing women and drinking beer.”
Pete is survived by his wife of 29 years and his love of 37 years, Pat Wetzel of Oberon
Children: Shana (Fred) Spina of Elizabeth, Colorado; Danette (Harvey) Houle of Belcourt, ND; Thomas V. “PeeWee” Wetzel of Devils Lake and Hollys (Jerad) Wetzel of Thompson, ND.
Grandchildren: CareyAnna and Cole; Della, Hannah and Peter; Caleb;
His mother, Arlene Wetzel of New Rockford;
Brothers and Sister: Rodger (Cindy) Wetzel, Bismarck; Anita (Bob) Anderson, Devils Lake; Tom Wetzel, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Tim (Donna) Wetzel, Tacoma, Washington; Paul “Fritz” (Karen) Wetzel, Sheyenne.
Many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles also survive.
He was preceded in death by his father, Albert, grandparents; several aunts, uncles and cousins and special cousin, Lori Kay Howard.