Wesley Bunnell

Wesley Henry Bunnell, 69, of Glidden, passed away Wednesday, August 15, 2018 due to injuries suffered in an auto accident near Jefferson, Iowa.

Mass of the Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 21 at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Glidden with Fr. Mark Stoll as Celebrant. Lector for the Mass was Ann Gibney. Gift Bearers were granddaughters, Ellie Bunnell and Tessa Ackerman. Casket bearers were Robert Bossard, Dennis Clark, Greg Clark, Jerry Dentlinger, Rick Pudenz and Bill Guinn. Burial was in Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery near Glidden.

Friends called at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Glidden after 5 p.m. on Monday where there was a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. The casket was moved to St. Elizabeth Seton Church at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday where visitation will resume until the time of Mass.     In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Hope Lodge in Rochester, MN and may be left with the funeral home or at the church.

Born on May 16, 1949 in Independence, Iowa, he was the son of Clarence and Hope (Fliss) Bunnell. Wes grew up in Jesup, Iowa where he graduated from high school in 1967. He attended Upper Iowa University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in math and physics with a minor in education. He taught one year in Breda.  

Wes was married to Barbara Clark on December 30, 1972 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elkader, Iowa by Msgr. Klassen. Wes and Barb made their home in Glidden where Wes worked for Ideal Manufacturing, West Central Coop and Middendorf Sheet Metal and Barb taught school. Wes purchased Clark Heating and Plumbing in Jefferson in 1995 and owned and operated the business until his death.  

Wes enjoyed woodworking, listening to jazz and the blues, especially the Blue Band at the Iowa State Fair, sitting by the fire in his back yard and spending time with his family and his eight grandchildren. Wes’ passion was his heating and cooling business and he could discuss heat pumps for hours with anyone. He also loved to give suggestions and do maintenance on his children’s houses.

Wes is survived by his wife, Barbara Bunnell of 45 years of Glidden; his children: daughters, Shannon Bunnell of Des Moines and Karen Ackerman (Jason) of Ottumwa and sons, Adam Bunnell (Lisa) of Atkins, Iowa and Ryan Bunnell (Jessica) of Fairfax, Iowa; eight grandchildren: Tessa, Miles, Simon, Ellie, Laura, Samuel, Stella and Nolan; his mother-in-law, Mary Clark of Elkader; a sister, Marie Fernau of Waterloo; a brother, Eugene Bunnell (Fern) of Jesup, Iowa; two sisters-in-law, Rosemary Bossard (Robert) and Ann Gibney (Dave) both of Elkader; two brothers-in-law, Dennis Clark (Rose) and Gregory Clark (Sue) both of Elkader; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Wes was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Hope Bunnell; his father-in-law, Donald Clark; his sister, Josephine Gosse; and two brothers-in-law, Matt Fernau and Don Gosse. 

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Glidden.