The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
August 2, 2010

Eric Jonathon Wessel
  
Eric Jonathon Wessel, 45, Brownstown, died at 8:13 p.m. Saturday, July 31, 2010, at his home with mom by his side.

He was born Sept. 13, 1964, in Seymour, the son of Ivan and Shirley Williams Wessel, both of whom survive in Brownstown.

He was a lifelong resident of Jackson County.

Other survivors include brothers, Bradley Todd (Missy) Wessel and Roger Dale (Buffy) Wessel, both of Brownstown; sister, Sherri Ann Wessel (Nathan) Cardinal, Brownstown; nieces and nephews, Stefini Brooke (Wessel) Romilus, Whitney Nicole Wessel, Gracie Dale Wessel, Peyton Mackenzie Wischmeier and Caden Andrew Cardinal; and stepnieces and stepnephews, Cody and Justin Gardner and Kristina Samples.

He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents.
Funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Johnson Funeral Home, Vallonia.

The Rev. Michael Hogg will officiate. Burial will follow at Vallonia Cemetery.

Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to the Brownstown Central Specially Challenged Class.

Eric was born a very special child and remained to be mom and dad's easiest child to raise. He continued to be this very special child for 45 years. Mom said from day one that God gave her Eric, he was hers to raise, and so she did from her home his whole life.

For years, he grew up in Vallonia and you could have seen him enjoying his leisure time swinging in the backyard. Moving out in the country in Brownstown after all of his siblings had left home, he continued to enjoy that swing that was put between two trees for shade. Mom made sure he wasn't treated any differently, so he too went to school. Eric rode bus number 13 to Brownstown and then bus 25 to Bedford. He did this until he was 18 years old.

He made friends, just like we all do, with a best friend named Henry. He also loved a teacher, Miss Polley.

Being a joy to have around, Eric found happiness in the things we all tend to take for granted. One thing he could always smile from was the sight of his mom. Mom, too, found her greatest gift in life was her children. And Eric, too, was always there to show his love for her. Eric will be greatly missed and will always be loved by all of us who knew him. He has now earned two of those simple things most of us do everyday without thought … walking and talking. Eric now does this with our Maker. Thank you, God, for giving us 45 years of knowing and loving our son, brother, uncle - Eric Jonathon Wessel.