Dennis Harm Wessels

Dennis Harm Wessels MD, 77, of Portland passed away peacefully on December 21, 2013 after an extended battle with Parkinson\u0027s disease. Dennis was born in Winthrop, Iowa to William E. Wessels and Verna Wessels. A 1955 graduate of Independence High School, he continued his education at Wartburg College where in 1959 he graduated Summa Cum Laude while competing on the varsity baseball and basketball teams. The University of Iowa School of medicine was his next endeavor, where he met Eva Limprecht whom he married in September of 1963. After completing his medical internship in Portland OR, Dennis served his country as a US Naval Flight Surgeon stationed in Pensacola, FL and Cherry Point, NC. He was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1968. He opened his medical practice in Shawano, WI prior to relocating to Lebanon, OR in 1977. He practiced medicine for a total of 41 years. When not in clinic, or the hospital, Dennis pursued his passion of the outdoors fishing and hunting throughout the Northwest. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Eva Wessels; his son David Wessels; two grandsons, Bandon and Jacob; his daughter Kari and son in law John R. DiPalma of Portland. He is also survived by his siblings, Wayne Wessels (Granger, IN), Jim Wessels (Hackensack, MN), Carol Koeneman (Waverly, IA) and Bill Wessels, MD (Wassau, WI). Dennis was a great husband, father, coach, grandpa, physician and outdoorsman. He will be missed by all and remembered fondly. A service to celebrate his life will be held at Our Saviors Lutheran Church (3111 S. Main Street, Lebanon OR 97355) on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to the Brian Grant Foundation (briangrant.org) or to the Parkinson\u0027s Resources of Oregon (parkinsonsresources.org)."",