Marlene (Eacret) Wessels

Marlene (Eacret) Wessels, age 90, quietly slipped away on the first day of spring, March 20, 2025, at Valley Manor Nursing Home with her devoted husband close by. Married for 72 years, she is survived by her husband Lyle S. Wessels. They were married June 22, 1952, in Fairbury, IL. She is survived by a daughter, Rae Ellyn (Stan) Bennett of Hamilton, MT and two sons, Dennis (Sheila) of Truth or Consequences, NM and Bryan (Jennifer) of Rio Rancho, NM. She was blessed with six grandchildren: Kelly, Patrick, Ryan, Michael, Travis and Trenton; seven great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She loved her family deeply.

Marlene was born May 4, 1934, to Gail (Lambeth) and James B. Eacret in Pontiac, IL. They preceded her in death as did her brothers LeRoy, Jay, Robert and a sister, Jean who had celebrated her 100th birthday August 2024. Other family members who preceded her in death were three nephews and one niece.

She attended elementary school in Piper City, IL and graduated in 1952 from Fairbury-Cropsey High School, Fairbury, IL. She resided in Lawton, OK during which time her husband was stationed at Ft. Sill. During his teaching career they resided in Wyanet, Ohio, Maple Park, Kaneville and Montgomery, all in IL and returned to Fairbury upon Lyle’s retirement; then their final home in Montrose, CO where they have resided for 24 years. Many winters were spent in residence in Harlingen, TX where she enjoyed square dancing and building friendships with other seasonal residents.

She was first and foremost a wife and mother; she held several part-time jobs, especially enjoying her final one as a Library Assistant at Dominy Memorial Library, Fairbury. She loved to read, needlepoint, travel and had various other hobbies. She had a very creative mind that was clearly evident in her sewing, crafting, baking, and even painting a fanciful dragon on a wall of her family room. She was enchanted with cats, and those she had as pets over the years were precious to her. Marlene had a circle of great friends with whom she’d enjoy birthday outings to Grand Junction, CO to shop in the morning, play Bingo in the afternoon and complete their celebrations at Red Lobster. She had always had a deep love for the western mountains, since first visiting them at age 13 and felt she had truly come home when she and her husband moved to CO in 2001. They enjoyed their daily drives into the countryside to view deer, bald eagles and other local wildlife.

She attended the United Methodist Church and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary John Jodi Post #54, Fairbury, IL.

Interment will be at Grand View Cemetery in Montrose, CO at a future date with a mixing of her ashes and those of her husband. A private celebration of life with her beloved family members and friends will take place then. Crippin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Because Marlene was such an avid reader all her life, memorial contributions may be made to Dominy Memorial Library, 201 S 3rd St, Fairbury, IL 61739, or via its website: dominymemoriallibrary.org.