Richard Wessell Obituary

Dick and I go way back. He was my best friend in high school and, hopefully, vice versa. We graduated from Taft High School in Norwood Park area of Chicago in 1940. Dick was the editor of the high school newspaper and was a member of the basketball team. I have many fond memories of being at the Wessell's home in Edison Park either on the front porch in the summertime or having fun inside chatting with his parents, Ruth and Sig. They were a fun couple. His dad had a grand sense of humor and twinkle in his eye which Dick inherited. His mom was really sweet. Dick had great admiration for his uncle, "Chick" Harley, who was Ohio State's first All-American football player and for whom the current OU's football stadium is named.
During World War II, we had some contact by message or flashing light when he was serving on a LSMR rocket ship and I was serving on the USS WEST VIRGINIA(BB48) during the naval campaign at Okinawa.
We maintained contact with one another throughout the years in spite of the distance which separated us, and I watched with pride as he increased the size of his newspaper chain.

I remember Dick as a gracious person with a cheery demeanor and a ready smile. He was passionate about politics. I extend my heartfelt sympathy to his family, and I share with you in the great loss you have suffered. He is leaving a wonderful legacy, and he will be missed by many friends and admirers including me.

I worked for the wessel family at the journal 10 years ago i will always remember dick wessel and how nice and fair he treated me and my wife to be sheila. We only worked part time as telemarketers but he was always friendly and sincere and i have looked very fondly of those times over the years. I want to send my condolances to his wife and all the kids who also were very nice to work for. alan sheila wolch and family.

I will always remember the many days and nights that Dick and I spent attending meetings, writing stories and discussing the endless problems of publishing a weekly newspaper when I was news editor of the Des Plaines Journal from 1956 to 1958. They were trying times but among the best times of my life. My condolences go to all the members of his family.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My memory of the Wessell family goes way back to days on Woodlawn and living across the street. Playing baseball, and just being neighborhood kids. Richard and Mary Jane always had a great sence of family and remained friends to our family to this day. I may have moved away from Des Plaines, but keep many memories in my heart of growing up there and always having a Wessell involved in some part of something. Richard and Mary Jane never forgot the kids across the street either. They have always been an important part of a very special town.

Sue "Wells" Stamm Freese