James Carl Wesselhoff, Sr. of Seaford entered into eternal rest with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 after a brief illness. He was the devoted husband of over 63 years to Genevieve M. Hradsky Wesselhoff.
Born in Chicago, IL on Sep. 22, 1937, he was the son of the late Leo Wesselhoff and Laura Huss Mucha. Upon graduation, the Army brought him to Aberdeen Proving Ground, where he met his future bride. He worked as a quality control manager for his entire career, retiring from Maryland Plastics in Jan. 2012. As a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, he served as a eucharistic minister for many years. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He enjoyed going to auctions, “collecting” tools and all sorts of items to give away to family and friends. He also spent many years in his backyard vegetable gardens. Living in Verona, NJ in the 1970s, he not only coached his sons but was also president of the baseball league. He also spent several years as the Cub Scout leader there. Later, he coached his daughter’s softball team. Later still, he found time to umpire the youth leagues in Seaford for many years.
Traveling was also a great passion: visiting family in Chicago and Florida, vacationing in Alaska and Hawaii, taking his sons to Las Vegas, and cruising the Mediterranean with his dear friends. But his favorite trips were accompanying his granddaughters to Barcelona, Israel, and the Mexican Riviera. Over the years, PopPop always found time for shopping trips with his grandchildren.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are a sister Marian, married to William Berger, Lake Mary, Fla.; two sons, James Jr., married to Bonnie, Baltimore, Md. and Michael married to Christine, Lodi, NY; and one daughter, Denise, married to Kirk Ray, Bridgeville. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Brittany, Kate, Emily, Daniel, Thomas, Abigail, Sophie, and Shelby; and five great-grandchildren, Walter, Hunter, Oliver, Amelia, and Arthur. He was preceded in death by a nephew Jason, son Paul and granddaughter Erin.
Friends and family may call Jan. 20 between 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Cranston Funeral Home, 300 Shipley Street, Seaford, DE 19973. The funeral service will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 528 East Stein Hwy., Seaford, DE 19973 on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. Interment will immediately follow the service at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in Blades.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Delaware Hospice.
To leave a condolence visit www.cranstonfuneralhome.com.