Carol's obituary

Carol Frances (Pahre) Wessel
March 24, 1930 - May 31, 2026

Carol Wessel was born on March 24, 1930, in Killduff, Iowa. Small family farms fared fairly well during the Great Depression; as she said, "We always had something to eat." However, when Carol was eight years old, the farmhouse burned down while her family was at church attending a Christmas pageant, and the Pahres had to move to town. After high school, Carol worked at Newton Loan and Abstract Company, saving enough to attend college at Iowa State. There, she met and dated her roommate's half-brother, Wallace Wessel. They were married on June 26, 1951, and so began her long career as a military wife supporting a career Marine Corps officer through 24 moves. She was a homemaker and busy mother of four children, Chari, Dawn, Ann and Matt; as well as head of the household when Wallace was overseas. After he retired, Carol nursed her husband through cancer and then post-cancer radiation damage and its after-effects. They traveled to England, Australia and Czechoslovakia, and hiked the Canadian Rockies together. After her husband's death, Carol moved to Arizona and made yet another new home in Green Valley, supported locally by daughter Dawn and her husband Peter. Carol loved sewing, singing in the choir, watching "Jeopardy," eating ice cream, and visiting with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She recently celebrated her 96th birthday, and died peacefully two months later, on May 31, 2026.

Carol is survived by her four children:

• Chari Wessel
• Dawn Tarzian (Peter), grandchildren Aaron, Sarah and Stephanie; and five great-grandchildren
• Ann Desautels (Robert), grandchildren Chris, Kyle and Cory; and five great-grandchildren
• Matthew Wessel (Carrie), grandchildren Jacob, Ryan and Andrew

and by her brother Keith Pahre (Barbara).

Carol also leaves behind fond memories with the uncountable other family members and friends who knew her bright, strong spirit during her long and blessed life.

A memory-of-life service will be held on June 28, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. at Desert Hills Lutheran Church, 2150 S Camino del Sol, Green Valley, AZ 85622. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Carol's name to DHLC Foundation, a Seminarian (future pastor) Scholarship fund.

Online: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-…
By mail: Desert Hills Lutheran Church Foundation
2150 S Camino del Sol, Green Valley, AZ 85622
Please make checks payable to the DHLC Foundation

Carol will be laid to rest with her husband Wallace Wessel at the Northern California Veteran's Cemetery in Igo, CA, later this summer. The date has yet to be scheduled.