Delbert Wessel

Delbert A. Wessel, age 95 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Friday, July 25, 2025 at the Tree of Life Assisted Living in New Munich, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 31 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Kevin Soenneker officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by Little Sauk American Legion.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 30 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 10:45 Thursday, July 31 at the church. Parish prayers will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Delbert was born on October 1, 1929, in Sauk Centre, the seventh of ten children born to August and Mary (Austing) Wessel. He proudly called Sauk Centre home for nearly his entire life.

On September 13, 1955, he married Eleanor Robideaux in Grey Eagle, Minnesota. Though they eventually went their separate ways, they remained close throughout their lives and shared a deep devotion to their family.

Delbert was a hard worker with an unmatched work ethic. He drove a milk truck for the Sauk Centre Co-Op Creamery for more than 50 years. For just as long, he worked on Schurman Farms driving tractor—a job he fondly called his “paid hobby.”

A veteran of the United States Army, Delbert was drafted as a Private First Class on February 12, 1953, in Minneapolis. He served during the Korean Conflict in Company C of the Fourth Tank Battalion, rising to the rank of First Class Sergeant. He was honorably discharged in 1955. During his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, and he took great pride in his role as a tank commander and in serving his country.

A man of many talents, Delbert was a gifted musician who loved playing the concertina. He was an avid baseball fan who never missed a chance to cheer on Whitey Ford and the New York Yankees. He enjoyed bowling, playing cards, checkers (which he rarely lost), and a good, competitive game of horseshoes. He enjoyed being playground monitor at Holy Family School for many years. Above all, he was a devoted father who, no matter how busy life got, often found time to play catch or take one of the kids down to Sauk Lake to cast a line.

Over the years, Delbert created countless cherished memories with his family. He delighted in taking the kids on trips to Paul Bunyan Land, always making those outings feel magical. His grandchildren knew him as “Grandpa Deet Deet,” a name that stuck as fondly as the Smarties candy he always seemed to have in his pocket. He especially looked forward to family anniversaries and get-togethers with his brothers—gatherings full of stories, laughter, and deep connection.

Delbert was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church until his move to the Tree of Life Assisted Living Home in New Munich in 2018. He was also a proud and active member of the Little Sauk American Legion Post 417.

He is survived by his children: Joe Wessel of Sauk Centre, Weezie Wessel of Sauk Rapids, Dar (Scott) Jahnig of Breckenridge, JoAnn (Rocky) Benoit of Sauk Rapids, Walter Wessel of Sauk Centre, and Mary (Steve Barten) Wessel of Carlos; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and his extended family Tina Valerius, her fabulous staff, and the residents at the Tree of Life Assisted Living Home in New Munich.

He was preceded in death by three children: Carol (1957), Shirley (1960), and Lavonne “Bonnie” (2013); daughter-in-law Ladonna (2016); the mother of his children, Eleanor (June 20, 2025); his parents; and his siblings: Bertha Thiesen, Cyril, Valeria Wolter, Greg, Hildegard Primus, Norb, Bobby, Helen Jenc, and Janette Derichs.

Delbert will be remembered for his gentle strength, deep roots in family and community, and the joy he brought to all who knew him—whether through a warm smile, a piece of candy, a game of checkers, or a walk down to the lake.