Services
Obituary
Wayne William Vestweber, age 80, of Alexander, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at Mercy One North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City.
Memorial services for Wayne Vestweber will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2145 Highway 3, rural Clarion, Iowa. Military graveside honors will follow at Alexander Cemetery, rural Alexander, Iowa.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 AM on Saturday at the church.
Wayne was born to William and Frances (Baker) Vestweber on January 6, 1943 and grew up on their family farm near Alexander, Iowa with his two older sisters, Joye and Phyllis. He graduated from Alexander High School in 1960 and afterwards joined 3 friends on a trip out West, touring South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wyoming on their single-cylinder Harley Davidsons. The entire trip cost him $12 for the gasoline and he described it as one of the highlights of his young life.
Wayne was proud of his military service. He enlisted in the Navy and served on the USS Eversole, a gearing-class destroyer deployed out of Yokosuka, Japan, until his honorable discharge in 1964. He returned home to Alexander to farm with his father and continued to live there and farm after his parents retired and moved to Belmond. On June 9, 1979, Wayne was united in marriage to Mariane Hansen Haupt and they had two sons together, Carl and Mark. Wayne continued to farm until 1986 when they began living most of the year in McAllen, TX, while Mariane worked nearby as a teacher. They spent summers on the farm in Iowa, retiring there permanently in 2014.
Wayne had a strong faith in God and he never hesitated to tell his sons and his grandchildren how much he loved them and was proud of them, showing support for all of their endeavors. He referred to Mariane as “his better half” and sang her praises as she lovingly cared for him at home in his final years. He continued to enjoy riding motorcycles and appreciating the beauty of nature throughout his life. Even as he struggled with his health the past few years, the family enjoyed many campfires together under the stars.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Mariane; son Carl, married to Sofia and their daughters Nina and Emma; son Mark, married to Anna and their sons Hugh and Owen; and his sister, Joye Gabrielson. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Phyllis Oxley.