Virgil L. Wesselmann, age 84 of Carlyle, died at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, Illinois on Monday, April 28, 2025.
Mr. Wesselmann was born in Breese, Illinois, on March 13, 1941, a son of Henry and Catherine (Schleper) Wesselmann. He attended the one-room schoolhouse at Linden Grove for his first four years of schooling, then he attended St. Augustine School in Breese. Virgil attended St. Henry’s Preparatory Seminary in Belleville before earning his bachelor’s degree from St. Meinrad School of Theology in 1964.
Following graduation, Virgil enlisted in the United States Army and reported to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood on June 11, 1964. Following basic training, he traveled by ship to Germany and served as company clerk for the 40th Ordnance Company in Karlsruhe, Germany. He was later given his first security clearance and transferred to Battalion Headquarters in Mannheim, Germany, where he served as Battalion Ordnance Clerk until 1966.
Virgil was recalled, along with 5,700 other personnel, to Ft. Benning, GA to reinstate the 199th Infantry Brigade. They trained in the swamps of Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana for several months before being shipped to Long Binh and Bien Hoa, Vietnam. Mr. Wesselmann received top secret clearance and served in the intelligence section at brigade headquarters at Bien Hoa. He was honorably discharged on May 24, 1967.
Virgil began working at American Steel in Granite City while attending SIU-E to study teaching. He began teaching grades 6, 7, and 8 at St. Mary’s School in Wesclin School District. In 1972, he earned his physical education and coaching certificates and taught P.E. in the Wesclin district until his retirement in 1994. He served as the president and treasurer for the Wesclin Education Association and the Illinois Education Association “Group L” of Southern Illinois. After retiring from teaching, Virgil worked at the Clinton County Rehab Center in Breese until 2003.
Mr. Wesselmann was a member of the Breese American Legion, Post 252, and a member of Trenton V.F.W. He transferred to and became a life member of Carlyle V.F.W. where he served on the Honor Guard. Mr. Wesselmann became a member of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 269 in 2003. He was instrumental in bringing its membership from 16, to presently over 225. Virgil was also active in assisting over 125 VVA members in obtaining health and compensation benefits due to Agent Orange. This cause was important to Virgil, as his activities recently were limited due to a stroke due to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. He served as a delegate for the Clinton County VVA at several state and national conventions.
Virgil became a member of the Knights of Columbus, Carlyle Council 1382 in 1972, and his service to the Knights was extensive. He served as Grand Knight two times, Columbian Club president, trustee for several years, and served as a bingo crew leader and chicken dinner chairman. Virgil was a delegate for the Carlyle Council at several state and national conventions. In addition to his membership in the Carlyle council, Virgil was also a Fourth Degree member of Knights of Columbus, Bishop Althoff As
Virgil was Fr. Jerome Feldmann’s right-hand worker for Marydale and Beaver Prairie parishes from 1970 until his passing in 1999. He organized and taught religion classes at Marydale and Beaver Prairie for many years. Virgil remained active in St. Teresa Catholic Church parish activities until 2017. He was also a member of the American Farm Heritage Museum in Greenville.
Although Virgil stayed active working and volunteering in the community, his family was always the center of his life. Mr. Wesselmann married Alice Peters on August 13, 1969, and they were blessed with 4 children: Maria Peterson, Laurie Wesselmann and boyfriend Steve Headen, Keith Wesselmann and girlfriend Jackie Kruse, and Eric Wesselmann; his grandchildren, Taylor Li and husband Larry, Paisley Peterson, Joshua Wesselmann and girlfriend Alison Tebbe, Kristen Foster and fiancé Karson Fehrmann, Jenna Foster and boyfriend Ronan Schuelke, and Hana Wesselmann; his siblings, Veronica Blumenstein, Henry Wesselmann, Jr. and wife Marie, Bernadette Yapp, Agnes Dumstorff, and Ruth Ann Jansen and husband Herman Jr.; and his in-laws, Kathryn Peters, Paul and Marilyn A. Peters, Jerry Peters.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Catherine Wesselmann; siblings, Marie (Lawrence) Kassen, Therese (Arthur) Schulte, Dorothy (John) Buscher, Helen (Robert) Hilmes, Vincent Wesselmann, Jerome (Theresa) Wesselmann, and Gregory (Clara) Wesselmann; and his in-laws, Marilyn K. Peters; Joe Peters, and Stanley Blumenstein.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at St. Teresa Church, Marydale. Interment with military honors will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Carlyle. Visitation will be held at Zieren Funeral Home, 1111 Clinton Street, Carlyle, IL, on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM and on Saturday morning from 9:00 – 10:30 AM.
Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mr. Wesselmann are suggested to St. Teresa Church and will be received through Zieren Funeral Home. Online condolences may be shared by visiting www.ZierenFuneralHome.com.
