Nancy Wessel 1951-2024

Nancy J. Wessel, 73, Goff, died Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Midland Hospice in Topeka with family by her side.

She was born Sept. 28, 1951, in Hiawatha, the daughter of Vernon Pete and Mary Jean Gibbs Burnett. She graduated from Holton High School in 1969.

Mrs. Wessel worked as a waitress at Trails Café in Holton, sold real-estate and was a telephone operator in Hiawatha, a bail bondsman for six years and a parts manager for a boat dealership in Kansas City. She also drove school buses for the Holton and Wetmore school districts for more than 27 years.

She was a member of St. James Catholic Church Council and the Goff Fire Department and EMS for 20 years. She also was active with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

She married Barry McQueen in 1972. They later divorced. She married Leo J. Wessel on July 1, 1987. He survives.

Other survivors include five children, Crystal Sims and husband Robert, Holton, Shannon McQueen and wife Melissa, Wetmore, Rebecca Wessel and husband Chris Carlson, Silver Lake, Paula Pederson and husband Chris, Clay Center, and Marsha Etherton and husband Andy, Independence, Mo.; two sisters, Jeanne M. Burnett and Belinda M. Cashman-Burnett, both of Holton; eight grandchildren, Bishop, Jess, Desirae, Dakota, Kael, Cole, Tatum and Brayden; and eight great-grandchildren, Vanessa, Joslynn, Bryson, Cayden, Javiah and Aryah, Max and Ava.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Pamela Burnett.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial will follow in Holton Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Wetmore Post 282, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.