Margaret Wessels

MARGARET RUTH WESSELS

Cedar Rapids

Margaret Ruth Wessels, 95, a former resident of Muscatine, passed away Monday, June 27, 2016, at the Keystones of Cedar Rapids Assisted Living. Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 22, at St. Mathias Church. A time of food and fellowship will be held immediately following the Mass in Gannon Hall. Burial will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery after the luncheon. Visitation will be from 10 until 11 a.m. July 22 at the church. The Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Ss. Mary and Mathias Parish. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com.

Margaret Ruth was born Oct. 18, 1920, in Ottumwa, the daughter of William P. and Henrietta Hawks Morrissey. She was a graduate of Ottumwa High School, class of 1938, and Marycrest College in 1942. She married John E. Wessels on March 13, 1943, at Sacred Heart Parish in Ottumwa. John preceded her in death on Feb. 1, 2005.

She taught business education in Melrose from 1943 until 1945 and then at Muscatine High School from 1962 until her retirement in 1981. She was a member of Ss. Mary and Mathias Parish, St. Mathias Altar and Rosary Society, Muscatine Retired Teachers Association and the Twentieth Century Literary Club in Muscatine. She also volunteered with the State Care Review of Iowa and reviewed the care provided in the Muscatine nursing homes.

Margaret Ruth loved her family unconditionally. She was the centerpiece of her family of origin and organized many trips, celebrations and gatherings to keep tightly knit the bonds of "those very Irish Morrisseys." She did the same with her own family and tried to give her children and grandchildren the gift of her time, stories, curiosity, wisdom and experiences that would create memories to last a lifetime. She served as their "vocabularian," as she would often insist on use of the correct 50-cent word in lieu of the five dimers. She adored every friend she ever made and never let one get away. Tales still abound of the escapades of the "Poop Group," seven or eight couples of which she was the last survivor. No question, they are all enjoying their highballs in heaven, reunited once again.

Margaret Ruth was a lady in every sense of the word, beautiful inside and out, an unparalleled hostess, beloved by those whose lives she touched.

The family would like to thank the kind and caring staff of Keystones of Cedar Rapids, especially those whose hugs and kisses on her last day reassured her that she was loved and not alone. Great appreciation also goes to Hospice of Mercy nurses, chaplain, social workers and volunteers whose visits served to brighten so many of her days and bring a smile to her face.

Those left to honor her memory include her children, Kathleen Cook and husband Rob of Cedar Rapids, Thom Wessels and wife Kathy of Wildomar, Calif., Bob Wessels and wife Kim of Chico, Calif., and Jack Wessels of Osage Beach, Mo.; five grandchildren, Tom Wessels, Ted Toborg, Libby Toborg Pollock, Tiffanie Porter and Ryan Wessels; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her siblings, William P. Morrissey Jr., Mary Catherine Jones, Claire Davis and Edward Morrissey; and one grandson, Jason Wessels.