In Memoriam

Peter Cordell Wessel

PETER WESSEL: 1952-2009; Won board seat amid cancer fight
 

A love of nature and the rural life of northwest suburban Barrington Hills lured Peter Wessel later in life.

It wasn't until Mr. Wessel was in his 40s that the Kenilworth native and his wife, Jane Clement, bought what Clement calls "a little slice of heaven" on 5 acres in Barrington Hills, a wealthy community with about 4,000 people and an equestrian tradition.

Preserving a rural and equestrian lifestyle was so important to Mr. Wessel that he waged a battle this spring for a seat on the Barrington Hills Village Board, even though he was fighting lung cancer. He won the election, but lost the battle against cancer.

Mr. Wessel, 56, died Thursday, Sept. 24, in Northwestern Memorial Hospital surrounded by family and friends.

Mr. Wessel grew up on the North Shore with fraternal twin brother Paul and older sister Karen. His mother, Georgia, was a homemaker, and his father, Dean, was a graphic designer best known for creating the spirited Chicago Bull logo.

Paul Wessel remembers an inseparable childhood with his brother, who was competitive at everything, from baseball to board games.

"As adults, I think the competitive side waned, although on the golf course we would always be quite competitive," Paul Wessel said. "I think once he married Jane and had a child, his sort of outlook on life changed a bit. He became extremely family-oriented."

Mr. Wessel graduated from New Trier High School and received bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was an estate planner and advanced life underwriter, protecting a family's wealth to pass on to the next generation, said Rick Tarsitano, his co-worker and good friend.

The job allowed Mr. Wessel to often work from home, giving him plenty of time with Clement and their son, Christopher, 16.

An avid golf player, Mr. Wessel discovered a love of nature after Clement, who grew up in South Africa, brought him home and took him to a national park.

"He just found something that he loved," Clement said. "My mother was a tour guide and took lot of people out into the game reserves. He would spend hours and hours every day out in the bush."

Mr. Wessel also was civic-minded, serving as president of the Riding Club of Barrington Hills, which is dedicated to preserving the community horse trail system, and as a Barrington Countryside Park District board member. He also helped to restore the Spring Creek Forest Preserve.

"Peter had a great sense of fairness," Clement said. "And anywhere he saw that needed his help ... he would jump in with both feet."

Though he learned he had cancer between Thanksgiving and Christmas last year, he campaigned for a Village Board seat. He wanted to protect the village's minimum 5-acre residential zoning law that some residents said a developer threatened. "It took his mind off of cancer," Clement said. "He loved a challenge."

Mr. Wessel also is survived by his stepmother, Kay Wessel, and an uncle, Burton D. Hansen. Family and friends will celebrate Mr. Wessel's life from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Boulder Ridge Country Club, 350 Boulder Drive, Lake in the Hills.

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klschorsch@tribune.com

Credit: By Kristen Schorsch, TRIBUNE REPORTER

[Illustration]
Caption: Photo: Peter Wessel's love of nature guided many of his decisions, including his civics pursuits

 

 
Death Notice: PETER CORDELL WESSEL
Anonymous. Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Ill.: Sep 27, 2009. pg. 40

Peter Cordell Wessel, 56, of Barrington Hills, loving husband of Jane Clement; devoted father of ChristopherClement Wessel; dear brother ofKaren and Paul Wessel; fond uncle of Michael Wessel, Lauren Wessel,Sarah Zeller and Samuel Neace; son-in-law of Mary Clement; brother-in-law of Brian Clement; stepson of Kay Wessel; loyal friend and public servant of many.

Preceded in death by his father, Dean Perry Wessel; and mother, Georgia Moon Wessel.

At peace on Sept.

24 after a courageous 11-month battle with lung cancer.

Peter was an estate planner and advanced life underwriter for many prominent families in the greater Chicago area.

He earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois as well as his undergraduate degree (Phi Beta Kappa). He was elected Trustee of the Village of Barrington Hills in April 2009 and served as Board Member of the Barrington Countryside Park District from 2005 to 2009.

Peter was serving his second term as President of the Riding Club of Barrington Hills and was also a certified Master Steward, authorized to lead restoration projects in the Cook County Forest Preserve, especially the Spring Creek Nature Preserve in Barrington Hills.

Peter was a popular and proud member of the Boulder Ridge Country Club, where he and his son Christopher won the father-son golf tournament in 2008.

Peter's family and many friends mourn the loss of his keen wit, intelligence, and joie de vivre.

A celebration of Peter's life will be held for family and friends at Boulder Ridge, Lake in the Hills, from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sept.

30, with a program of music and memories from 6 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Peter's family would appreciate donations to the Spring Creek Stewards, of which Peter was a dedicated member.

Checks may be made out to Audubon Chicago Region with "Spring Creek Stewards/Peter Wessel" in the memo line and should be sent to JaneClement, who will donate them to the Stewards.

Sign Guestbook at chicagotribune.com/obituaries

***

Peter Cordell Wessel of Barrington Hills for 14 years Peter Cordell Wessel, 56, formerly of Kenilworth for 18 years and Chicago for 14 years, was the beloved husband of Jane L. Clement; and loving father of Christopher Clement Wessel. Born Nov. 30, 1952, in Chicago, he passed away Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago. He graduated from the University of Illinois, undergraduate and law school. He was an estate planner for many prominent Chicago area families. He was elected a trustee of the Village of Barrington Hills in April 2009. He was the brother of Karen Cooper Wessel and Paul Spencer; uncle of Sarah Zeller, Samuel Zeller, Lauren Wessel and Michael Wessel; and stepson of Kay Wessel. Memorial service information for Peter will be posted at www.caringbridge.org /visit/PeterWessel. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Audubon Society, Chicago Region. Please write Peter Wessel/Spring Creek Stewards in the memo line. Published in Chicago Suburban Daily Herald from September 27 to September 29, 2009



 
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04/03/10 04:17 PM #1    

Don Casey

He was my Brother! Donnie Casey

06/10/10 12:52 AM #2    

Jennifer Schlueter (Spinney)

Miss Peter and look forward to seeing Paul....Peter helped my family so much and besides that...New Trier senior year was so much fun!!! Miss you Peter!!!


04/06/21 08:29 PM #3    

Paula C. Perez (Dichiara)

There is a time in this young girl's life, when I was the "new kid" at Joseph Sears. We had just moved to Kenilworth, which I must say was a bit daunting for a girl arriving there in knee socks and saddle shoes from California. But there was a fellow there who was very nice. His name was Peter Wessel and he used to talk to me from time to time on "the green" in Kenilworth. I would walk my dog and Peter would be out there looking at the trees, which he would discuss with me. He had dark black glasses, as I recall, and I thought he was a "cutie pie" but moreso, that he was very smart. I think I had a crush. It was only 7th and 8th grade, since I lost track of him in that behemeth school known as New Trier, but I will always remember my brief time knowing him, talking to him and discovering what a nice fellow he was.

Paula Perez Dichiara


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