Cleo Wetzel
Visitation: Service: |  | |
| Funeral services for Cleo Wetzel, age 93 of Gravity, who died Friday, October 31, 2008 at the Clearview Nursing Home in Clearfield were held Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford. Interment was held at the Washington Cemetery in Gravity. Memorials can be given in Cleo’s name. Memories can be shared with the family on our website at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.
Cleo Harlan Wetzel was born May 29, 1915, on a farm in Adams County, Iowa the son of Verne C. Wetzel and Hazel Luella (West) Wetzel, he was the oldest of two children, a brother Roy would be born five years later. He grew up attending country school at Mercer Center through the eighth grade and then began helping his father with the family farming operation. He later worked for his Uncle Frank and Aunt Flossie West. It was then he met his bride-to-be, Dorothy Ellen Hays. On October 10, 1944 the couple were united in marriage in Bedford, Iowa. Cleo and Dorothy just celebrated their 64th Wedding Anniversary. To this loving union four children were born, Ronald Reldon, Robert Charles, Dwight David and finally their daughter, Marcia Ellen. Cleo farmed for many years, first with horses and later purchasing his first John Deere B Tractor in 1956. He also helped build the Lenox and Corning Elementary and High Schools. He later worked for the Coop in Shenandoah for a few years, finally becoming the Custodian at the Gravity School, a position he held for ten years until it closed and he retired. Cleo loved gardening, always looking forward to tending a large garden each year, sharing the produce with his friends and family. He also enjoyed tending his flower garden where he raised big dahlias and cannas. On August 20, 1970, Cleo was baptized into Christ. He also taught Sunday school for many years along with being a Deacon at the Gravity Christian Church. Cleo was a quiet man, who was always willing to help others. He always made sure the heat was turned on at the Gravity Christian Church when needed along with doing various jobs that went unnoticed by others, like checking on his neighbors to be sure all was well. Cleo truly loved his grandchildren and they enjoyed ‘helping him’ and having him read to them. Later his great-grandchildren were born and oh . . . . how his face would light up with a big smile when they would come to see him! His family was truly the ‘joy of his life’. Left to cherish Cleo’s memory are his loving wife of 64 years, Dorothy Wetzel of Clearfield; two sons, Robert Wetzel and wife Loretta of Corning; and Dwight Wetzel and wife Glenda of Bedford; his daughter, Marcia Nickell and husband Galen of Gravity; a brother, Roy Wetzel and wife Pearl of Texas; twelve grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. Preceding Cleo in death are his parents, Verne and Hazel Wetzel, his in-laws, Ray and Ina Hayes and his son, Ronald Wetzel in 2008. Cleo was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His gentle kindness will be missed by his family. | ||