James Matthew Wessels' Obituary
James “Matt” Wessels, 70, of Waupun, Wisconsin, formerly of Fulton,IL passed away, Monday, December 15, 2025 at the Randolph Health Care Facility- Randolph, Wisconsin.
Funeral Services will be 11:00am, Saturday, December 20, 2025 at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church – Fulton. Burial will be in the Clinton Lawn Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Caleb Wessels, Micah Landheer, Chad Medenblik, Ryan Medenblik, Jared Wessels and Michael Wessels. Visitation will be Friday evening from 4:00-7:00pm at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory.
James (Matt) Matthew Wessels was born on October 3, 1955 in Clinton, Iowa, James L. and Marlene M. (Houzenga) Wessels. Matt was the oldest of his six siblings. He went to school at Community Christian School until the eighth grade. Matt was a 1973 graduate of Fulton High School. He married Lorraine (Lorie) Jaeger on May 12, 1978 in Fulton, Illinois.
Early on in his career Matt began working at Waukesha engine company in Clinton, Iowa. Upon the completion of his apprenticeship, Matt began working at Drives Inc. He worked at Drives Inc. as both a tool and die maker and also a tool design engineer. He retired after 32 years in 2018 from Drives/Timken and devoted the rest of his time to his family, friends and church.
Matt had a servant and selfless heart. He volunteered his time in so many ways in his community and church. Matt loved coaching basketball and soccer. Matt volunteered his time as board member and also as president of the Unity Christian School board. He also found time to oversee the athletic boosters club as president. For years, Matt was a janitor at Unity where every summer he would faithfully wax the floors for the upcoming school year. A task that he took much pride in. He was a devoted member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church. He served as a Sunday school teacher, deacon, elder and member of the church softball team. Matt looked forward to serving on so many church mission trips and making lasting memories from the travel to and from.
Those who knew Matt well would say that he will be remembered as a Christian with a servant heart, very humble and patient, generous, a perfectionist, self-less, loving husband and father. When he wasn’t helping his family or others he could be found fishing, playing sports, riding his bike or sitting outside on a nice day and enjoying the sunshine.
Matt is survived by his wife: Lorie Wessels of Waupun, Wisconsin; their three children: Katie (Bob) Brickman of Oak Forrest, Illinois, Kyle (Martina) Wessels of Plymouth, Wisconsin, and Kerrie (Jerad) Landheer of Waupun, Wisconsin; 8 grandchildren; and his siblings: Michael (Peg) Wessels of Byron, Michigan, Tim (Laura) Wessels of Waupun, Wisconsin, Todd (Cindy) Wessels of Plainwell, Michigan, Renae (Jim) Medenblik of Fulton, Illinois, Tamara Wessels and Beth (Eric) Wessels-Rice, both of Durham, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents James and Marlene Wessels of Fulton.
Memorials can be made to the Unity Christian High school athletic and music departments.
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