Wesley E. Schliep

A Mass of Christian Burial for Wesley will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sutton, Nebraska with Father Michael Zimmer presiding.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 8, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at McLaughlin Funeral Chapel in Clay Center, Nebraska.
Military Graveside Services will be held at the Clay Center Cemetery in Clay Center, Nebraska.
Memorials are to be directed to the family to be designated at a later date in honor of Wesley.
A Livestream Video of the Funeral Service will be on McLaughlin Funeral Chapel's Facebook page. It is a publicly shared Facebook page so you do not need a Facebook account. The Livestream will start approximately 5 minutes before the Funeral Service.
Wesley (Wes) Ernest Schliep, 92, formerly of Clay Center, passed away peacefully in Hastings, NE, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Wesley was born in Lead, SD, on April 10, 1932, to Oliver and Clara (Hinrichs) Schliep. He was the oldest of four children. His brother Duane was born in 1935, sister Ardis was born in 1939, and his sister Eileen was born in 1942. The family moved from Lead, SD to a farm east of Clay Center in the 1940s. Wesley graduated from Clay Center High School in 1950. He was drafted into the Army in 1950 and served until 1953. He spent time in Fort Leonard Wood and later in Okinawa, Japan during the Korean War. When his military service was finished, he returned to Clay Center and started farming.
Wes met Marilyn Erthum in 1958 and they were married in March of 1959. They moved onto the farm where they resided until 2022 when their health declined and they moved to College View Assisted Living in Hastings, where they resided until he passed away. During the 1960s Wesley and Marilyn started their family; Lynette was born in 1960, Randy in 1961, Bruce in 1962, Brenda in 1965, and Sue in 1969.
During the next 60 years, Wesley and Marilyn enjoyed working on the farm and raising their family. In the early 1980s they started collecting Farmall tractors. They traveled to many tractor shows throughout the Midwest and continued to add to their tractor collection throughout the years. Both Wes and Marilyn enjoyed this and many times grandkids went along and the bond they created will last forever. Along with the tractor shows they enjoyed traveling to many states, including Alaska.
Wes always enjoyed working with wood and made many things throughout the years. He also enjoyed working rocks and made many jewelry pieces for the family and lots of bolo ties. He always made time to visit with friends, neighbors, and family, and lots of laughs were had around their kitchen table. He was always quick to bring out his box of tricks, trying to stump someone who was trying to figure out the answer to solving the trick and various puzzles.
Wes is survived by his wife, Marilyn, of 65 years; his children, Lynette Anderson, of Clay Center, Randy (Marla) Schliep of Waverly, Brenda (Doug) Scoville of Clay Center, and Sue (Rick) Johnson of Louisville;14 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Ron Ethington of Atlanta, GA; sister-in-law, Fran Schliep of Hastings, and sister-in-law, Rosella Heuertz of Hastings; and many nieces and nephews.
Wesley was preceded in death by his son, Bruce Schliep; grandchildren, Jake and Tayler Johnson; parents, Oliver and Clara Schliep; parents-in-law, George and Nora Erthum; sister, Eileen Ethington; sister and brother-in-law, Ardis and Don Olson; brother, Duane Schliep; brother-in-law, Darrell Heuertz; and brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Marge Erthum.