Thomas William Wessling

Thomas “Tom” William Wessling passed away peacefully in the hospital on October 6, 2025, surrounded by his loving family, after bravely facing several health challenges in recent years. He was 68 years old.

Tom was born in Morocco, Africa, on July 22, 1957 during his father’s Navy service, and spent his childhood moving from place to place with his siblings including Cuba, Florida, West Virginia, California, Mississippi, and Iowa. Together they made plenty of mischief and memories, especially during their time in Gulfport, Mississippi – walking to the beach, getting into the neighbor’s sugarcane patch, and once being chased by a wild boar!

Tom married Sandra “Sandy” (Hast) on June 20, 1981. That same year he earned his Commercial Driver’s License – two major milestones that marked the start of their lives together. He began a long and proud career as a truck driver for Farmland, eventually buying his own rig and logging over a million miles across the country.

On December 20, 1987, their daughter Lindsey was born, adding even more joy to the journey. Sandy and Lindsey occasionally joined Tom on the road, sharing time together in the cab – even if he didn’t always stop at all the shops they pointed out along the way.

Together, the three of them built a life full of love, laughter, and competitive family game nights (where Tom’s “spirited” nature was on full display).

Tom had a passion for poker, snowmobiling, and golfing. If he wasn’t on the road or spending time with his family, you could find him on snowmobiling trips with friends, doing poker runs in his cherished 1940 Ford Coupe, or playing poker at the Horseshoe Casino. One of his lifelong dreams was to play in the World Series of Poker, a wish fulfilled thanks to his good friend, Ed Krajicek. He also enjoyed watching football (Iowa Hawkeyes, Miami Dolphins), basketball (Iowa Hawkeyes, Los Angeles Lakers), and NASCAR often with colorful commentary and a remote that was strictly his domain.

Tom was a proud father and a steady provider, always working hard to support his family, give them a good life, and share unforgettable laughs along the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mary Wessling. He is survived by his wife Sandy; daughter Lindsey Bandow (Tim); siblings Rebecca Webb (Tom), Robert “Bob” Wessling, and Cynthia Wessling; and many extended family members and friends.

Tom’s legacy lives on in the miles he traveled, the stories he told, and the laughs he shared with loved ones. Visitation with family greeting friends will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a Memorial Service to begin at 3:30 p.m., all at Huebner Funeral Home in Denison. Memorials may be directed to the family.