Earnest Edmund Wetzel passed away peacefully on August 10, 2019 in Payson, Utah.
Earnest was born May 18, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Ray and Thelma Wetzel. His mother passed away when he was seven years old. He went to school until he was a Junior, then joined the Army in 1945 where served in Korea until WWII ended, working as a rifleman and truck driver. He married Fay Butterfield on December 14, 1949 in Taylorsville, Utah. They moved to Los Angeles, California in 1951 where he worked as a carpenter and later received his High School Diploma. He became active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and took his wife and five children to be sealed in the Los Angeles LDS Temple in December 15, 1960. They lived in LA for 17 years then moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1968.
Earnie’s first love was fishing! But he also enjoyed working on cars and woodworking. He built their home in Oregon where they lived for over 40 years. He served in many positions in the LDS church including an LDS mission with his wife to Nauvoo, Illinois in 2001. Earnie enjoyed good health all his life and we credit the “Hooch” he made and took faithfully every day.
He is survived by his wife, Fay, five children and spouses, Ray (Vicky) Wetzel of Silverton, Oregon; Janet Fee of Vancouver, Washington; Peggy (Dan) Heap of Saginaw, Texas; Teresa (Robert) Lake of Parker, Colorado; Dale (Carolynn) Wetzel of Klamath Falls, Oregon; 23 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Dean Wetzel; sister, Beverly Severson; son-in-law, Michael Fee; and great-grandsons, Jacob Wetzel and Rufus Loucks.
A public graveside service will be held on August 16 2019 at 2 p.m. at the Utah Veteran’s Cemetery and Memorial Park in Bluffdale, Utah. A public viewing will be held on Friday, August 16, 2019 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 587 South 100 West, Payson.
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