Roger D. Wessel

Roger D. Wessel, 63, of Hartford, MO, died Friday, May 5th, 2023, in a farm-related accident.

Roger was born July 6th, 1959, to Joe and Wilma (Lewis) Wessel at the Monroe Hospital in Unionville MO. Roger was the third of four children.

Roger spent all his life in the Putnam County area, graduating from Putnam County High School in 1977. After high school, he graduated as a diesel mechanic from Quincy Tech in Quincy, IL. He began his career as a mechanic first at Ryals Automotive and later at Rennells Automotive.

Roger began working for Premium Standard Farms in the maintenance department and later became a supervisor in the environmental and land services area. Eventually he “quit” PSF at the age of 51. Sometimes people would say, “I didn’t know you had retired.” He was quick to correct them, “I didn’t retire, I just quit.”

Roger’s hobbies included golf (regular and Wii), playing cards, volleyball, getting rid of trees, mechanic work, and running a backhoe for anyone needing it if you paid for his fuel. Most weekends he could be found playing cards with his family. Roger was an avid golfer during his “QUIT-Tirement,” golfing three times a week when the weather allowed.

Any time the family got together, you could be sure Roger was ready to play kickball, volleyball, baseball, or jump rope with his nieces and nephews. Under that sober personality, you might be surprised to find a tender heart that allowed his nieces and nephews to wrap him around their fingers—which at times meant, his fingernails being painted, his eyebrows plucked, and kids on his lap while learning to drive a car or work a backhoe! He was very competitive and even though some thought he took cards a little too seriously, he simply wanted to teach everyone how to play to his level of perfection.

If a family member or neighbor was in need, you could count on Roger to come with his backhoe, his hammer, his shovel, his tools, his muscle and his knowledge to help. Roger’s smile and fun-loving personality will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Roger is survived by his sisters Beverly (Roger) Worley and Brenda (Bud) Rowland of Unionville and his brother Ronnie (Tonja) Wessel of New London, MO. He is also survived by ten nieces and nephews: Steven (Mandy) Rowland, WesLee (Mary) Rowland, Lindsey (Mike) Johnson, Brad (Delhi) Rowland, Kenneth (Samantha) Worley, Sara Worley (Alex Leffler), Aaron (Katie) Wessel, Kyle (Katie) Wessel, Kailey (Chris) Bastian, and Brett Wessel (Sara Ogle), as well as 23 great-nephews and great-nieces (with more on the way) who all loved to play with “Uncle Roger.”

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Wilma Wessel.

Funeral services will be held at Playle & Collins Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 9. Visitation will be Monday, May 8 from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at the Shipley Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Shipley Cemetery or the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home.