Dolores Wessel

Homecoming is a word in the English language that connotes much joy, love and happiness. Homecoming is the returning to one's home.

Thursday, May 8, 2003, was the Homecoming for Dolores as her redeemed soul returned to its eternal heavenly home, ending an earthly pilgrimage of 85 years, three months, and 11 days.

This Homecoming will be celebrated in a Triumphal Service at 1 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home, with Pastor Douglas Breite of Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. The physical body will rest in Cape County Memorial Park to await the day of resurrection. Visitation will be from noon until time of service.

The soul of Dolores began its earthly journey Jan. 27, 1918, when a baby girl arrived at the home of Herman and Pearl Lewis Holland at Swinton, Mo. Though an older sister had lived only one day, Dolores was later joined by four brothers. Two reside in Cape Girardeau with their wives, E. Dale and Helen and M. Gale and Derenda Holland.

Deloit and J.C. are deceased. However, Deloit's widow, Mary Lou, resides in St. Louis and J.C.'s widow, Beverly, in Denver, Colo. A sister-in-law, Fern (Gene) Statler resides in Jackson. Many nieces and nephews also survive.

Dolores graduated from Cape Girardeau Business College and was a secretary with the law firm of Finch and Finch. During World War II she was a secretary with the American Red Cross at Letterman General (Army) Hospital in the Presidio of San Francisco, Calif.

On Aug. 21, 1942, she married a young serviceman, Wilver W. Wessel, at Trinity Lutheran Parsonage in Cape Girardeau.

A son, Bruce Gregory, was born July 14, 1951. He died July 16, 1951.

Dolores was an ardent Bible scholar and active in her church.

Memorials may be made to Wilver and Dolores Wessel Scholarship Fund, Saxony Lutheran High School, or Trinity Lutheran School Building Fund.

This obituary would not be complete without adding the tribute to her on the 60th wedding anniversary observance.

To Dolores:

Aug. 21, 1942, to Aug. 21, 2002.

It has been a long climb from 1942 to 2002. Yes, 60 years. The race is not always to the swiftest or the strongest, but to those with the Lord by their side. Thanks and praises to Him who has been with us all these years.

The roses are to a very special lady who has waited all these years for one dozen red roses. To paraphrase a popular song title, "Red Roses for a Beautiful Lady," not only do these roses speak of six decades, but also of your sterling qualities: your faith, your love, your caring, your placing others first, your forgiving spirit, and so many more.

I can't begin to tell you how much you have meant to me. You have always been there, through the sunshine, the rains, and the snows of life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Matthew Henry, in his commentary on the 49th Psalm wrote these words, "All things are devoured by the teeth of time." That leaves us only our faith, love and memories which are often quite fragile.

So, as we rest on the summit of 60 years, we raise our praises and thanksgiving for the countless blessings and love for each other that has enabled us to reach this day.

To you, darling, thanks for your love and caring. Above all, "Thanks for the memories!" I will be loving you always!

All my love,

Wilver