Community Businessman Bob Wetsel Dies At 80
Remembered For Love Of People, Years Of Service
Posted: January 31, 2013
HARRISONBURG — Bob Wetsel will be remembered as a man who endeared himself to many through the simple act of friendly conversation.
Wetsel, who died Tuesday at the age of 80 after a monthlong illness, was a well-known businessman who served the community through his volunteer involvement with local fire and rescue companies and on a number of civic boards.
“He enjoyed the fact that he had served for so many years in the fire company and the rescue squad,” said his wife, Carolyn Wetsel, “and on the Salvation Army [board],” on which he had served for more than 30 years and was still a member at the time of his death.
Wetsel was a founding and life member of the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, which he joined in 1950 at 18 and served for 22 years.
Before 1989, he and his brother, Nelson Wetsel, were part owners of the Wetsel Seed Co. He served as the operations manager at the company’s former warehouse off North Liberty Street.
Brad Wetsel, who worked with his father for years and even shared an office with him, said that his dad took special interest in his employees’ lives.
“He really reached out to them,” he said. “He always had a genuine concern for them and their families.”
Carolyn Wetsel said that even 20 years after Wetsel Seed was sold, her husband would read an obituary of a former employee’s relative and attend the funeral.
“He sent sympathy cards by the dozen,” she said. “He was heartfelt about all their losses.”
She described her husband as someone who never met a stranger.
“He knew everybody in town,” said Bill Stoner, a friend of Wetsel’s. “He was a friend to many, many people. That’s what impressed me.”
“He was so friendly, you could not go anywhere in Harrisonburg that he didn’t see a lot of people he knew, in any setting,” said longtime friend Don Thompson. “He’d always want to stop and talk to people.”
Stoner, who attended First Presbyterian Church on Court Square with Wetsel and Thompson, said that Wetsel loved to eat out in his later days.
“Anyplace there was good food, he was ready to go,” Stoner said, adding that Red Lobster was one of Wetsel’s favorites.
Carolyn Wetsel added that whenever they went out to eat, her husband would approach and talk to strangers. He took particular interest in the lives of wait staff.
“He just loved people,” she said.
In addition to his wife and son, Wetsel is survived by three other children, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, 17 N. Court Square, Harrisonburg.
Contact Alex Rohr at 574-6293 or arohr@dnronline.com
Wetsel, who died Tuesday at the age of 80 after a monthlong illness, was a well-known businessman who served the community through his volunteer involvement with local fire and rescue companies and on a number of civic boards.
“He enjoyed the fact that he had served for so many years in the fire company and the rescue squad,” said his wife, Carolyn Wetsel, “and on the Salvation Army [board],” on which he had served for more than 30 years and was still a member at the time of his death.
Wetsel was a founding and life member of the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, which he joined in 1950 at 18 and served for 22 years.
Before 1989, he and his brother, Nelson Wetsel, were part owners of the Wetsel Seed Co. He served as the operations manager at the company’s former warehouse off North Liberty Street.
Brad Wetsel, who worked with his father for years and even shared an office with him, said that his dad took special interest in his employees’ lives.
“He really reached out to them,” he said. “He always had a genuine concern for them and their families.”
Carolyn Wetsel said that even 20 years after Wetsel Seed was sold, her husband would read an obituary of a former employee’s relative and attend the funeral.
“He sent sympathy cards by the dozen,” she said. “He was heartfelt about all their losses.”
She described her husband as someone who never met a stranger.
“He knew everybody in town,” said Bill Stoner, a friend of Wetsel’s. “He was a friend to many, many people. That’s what impressed me.”
“He was so friendly, you could not go anywhere in Harrisonburg that he didn’t see a lot of people he knew, in any setting,” said longtime friend Don Thompson. “He’d always want to stop and talk to people.”
Stoner, who attended First Presbyterian Church on Court Square with Wetsel and Thompson, said that Wetsel loved to eat out in his later days.
“Anyplace there was good food, he was ready to go,” Stoner said, adding that Red Lobster was one of Wetsel’s favorites.
Carolyn Wetsel added that whenever they went out to eat, her husband would approach and talk to strangers. He took particular interest in the lives of wait staff.
“He just loved people,” she said.
In addition to his wife and son, Wetsel is survived by three other children, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, 17 N. Court Square, Harrisonburg.
Contact Alex Rohr at 574-6293 or arohr@dnronline.com