Doris M. Wessels, 87, of Epworth, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at the Hawkeye Care Center in Asbury, Iowa.

Friends and relatives of Doris may call from 2 to 7 p.m., on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, Iowa, where a prayer service will be held at 1:30 p.m.  Visitation will also be held after 9 a.m. Monday, October 16, 2023 at the funeral home.

Services for Doris will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, October 16, 2023 at St. Patrick’s in Epworth, Iowa, with Rev. Michael Schueller presiding.  Concelebrating will be Msgr. Lyle Wilgenbusch.  Burial will be held in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Epworth, Iowa.

She was born September 27, 1936 in Bankston, Iowa, daughter of Clarence “Shorty” and Matilda “Tillie” (Hannan) Wilgenbusch.  She was a 1954 graduate of Epworth High School.  On November 3, 1956 she was united in marriage to Philip M. Wessels at St. Patrick’s Church in Epworth, Iowa.  He preceded her in death on June 8, 2003.

The couple lived in Dyersville until 1968, when they moved to Epworth where they owned and operated Phil’s Tap for 10 years, they then owned and operated OK Hardware in Epworth, she worked at Mike’s bar in Worthington and finished her career working in the kitchen at Mount Carmel BVM Center.

She took great pride in planting beautiful flower gardens and tending them.  She like to socialize over a game of euchre or a meal with family and friends.  She was a great cook and spent a great deal of her time cooking and feeding others.   Her pride and joy were her grandchildren and great grandchildren and she always liked to have cookies in the cookie jar for them.

She is survived by five children, Mike (Julie) Wessels of Epworth,  Mark (Cora) Wessels of Dubuque, Judy (Ron) McCarthy of Epworth,  Amy (Tom) Vandervaart of Cedar Rapids,  and Joe (Deb) Wessels of Cascade; twelve grandsons and 1 granddaughter; 4 great grandchildren; four siblings, Cheryl (Bob) Hird of Dubuque, Tom (LaVonne) Wilgenbusch and  Dan (Connie) Wilgenbusch both of Epworth and Steve and Janet Wilgenbusch of Nashville, TN; sisters-in-law, Kay Wilgenbusch of Epworth, Doris (Laverne) Wiskus of Colesburg and Nancy Goerdt of Earlville,

She is preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Mary Alice (Ron) Connolly and Margie (Dennis) Zimmer; one brother, Willis Wilgenbusch and brothers and sister-in-law, Dave Goerdt and Dave (Carol) Wessels.

An online video may be viewed and online condolences sent to the family at [email protected].

The family would like to thank the staff of Hawkeye Care Center and St. Croix Hospice for all the kindness, care and support given to Doris and our family.