William (Bud) Lewis Wesselius
William (Bud) Lewis Wesselius, 89, died July 4, 2008.
He was born Sept.19, 1918, to Richard and Elsie Saunders Wesselius of Orchardville.
He grew up on his parents ranch at Orchardville. He attended grade school at Orchardville and high school at Granger.
Bud worked on his parents ranch at Orchardville until he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. Completing a correspondence extension service course at Fort Lewis.
In January 1941, Bud was drafted in the U.S. Army. He served in the Normandy and Northern France Campaign as a Flash Ranging Observer.
Bud was shot in the chest and captured for 24 hours. He was left to die. After waiting until his captors were gone he was able to drag himself to an Army truck nearby. He drove until he wrecked the truck and then some of his buddies found him. He was a very heroic man. He spent 111 days in the hospital recovering from his injury. He received a Bronze Arrowhead, Purple Heart, American Theater Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and European African Middle Eastern Service Medal. He received an Honorable Discharge in October 1945. After getting out of the Army, Bud went to Perry Trade School in Yakima, to train as an mechanic. Bud worked as a mechanic for a car dealership in Goldendale.
In 1952, he moved to Yakima, and went to work for Hanford.
In 1964, Bud married Laura Marie Swindling Thysell.
In 1965, they found a ranch at Appleton. In 1966, they purchased 10 head of cattle, eventually they had 60 head of cattle. Bud and Laura worked as team on the ranch. Bud also worked for the State of Washington as a fire warden for 15 years during those years. Bud retired from the state in 1982. The two of them then did some traveling which they enjoyed very much.
Bud took on quite a job when he married Laura. He acquired seven kids in this marriage. He helped out with his niece and nephews as well. They were very special to him. He loved hunting, fishing, and boating. Collecting and polishing rocks was a favorite pastime.
Bud is preceded in death by his parents, Richard Wesselius and Elsie Ruth Saunders Wesselius; brother, Ged Wesselius; sister-in-law, Alene Wesselius; nephew Frank Wesselius; brother-in-law, Bob Scheirbeck; nephew, Frank Scheirbeck, grandson, Gary Hartsock.
Surviviors include his wife, Laura; seven children and their spouses, David and Edna Thysell, Art and Marge Thysell, Clyde and Merla Thysell, Janice and Jerry Byers, Joyce Hill, Rod and Mary Jane Thysell, Todd and Lisa Thysell; sisters, Mary Lou Scheirbeck and Maurie Wesselius; many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and friends.
A graveside service was held July 9, at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Appleton.
Gardner Funeral Home handled arrangements.
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