Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameEsther Eleanor Diel 
Birth4 Aug 1916, Decker Twp, Richland Co, IL
Death19 Apr 2015, Olney, Richland Co, IL
MemoRichland Memorial Hospital
Misc. Notes
Daughter of James Emmanuel Diel (1888-1981) and Grace Esther Newlin (1892-1954)
After her husband’s death, she sold that land and moved a couple miles north to Olney, Illinois.
[Obituary] Summers-Kastler Funeral Home
Esther E. Wells, 98, of Olney, passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.
Esther was born August 4, 1916 in Decker Twp., Richland County, IL, the daughter of James E. and Grace (Newlin) Diel. She married Walter Thomas Wells on April 20, 1946 in Calumet City, IL. He preceded her in death on February 10, 1988.
Esther was a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, served as a Girl Scout Leader, a Cub Scout Den Mother, and a volunteer in many church activities. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Olney.
She is survived by her son, James Wells and wife, Donna of Hammond, IN; Daughter, Ruth Hull and husband, Russell of Ashkum, IL; Daughter, Joyce Kuna and husband, David of Lawton, ND; Daughter, Karen Weir and husband, John of Hammond, IN; Son, Roy Wells and wife, Sheryl of Morgantown, IN; Sisters, Sylvia Moore and husband, Eugene of Newton, IL, Gladys Fitzpatrick of WI, Audra Shan of Olney, and Marilyn Bear and husband, Verne of Paris, IL; Ten grandchildren; Eight great grandchildren and one expectant; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, son, Thomas Joseph, brother, Joseph Diel, and sisters, Mary Margaret Knakmuhs and Nell Ambers.
After her husband’s death, she sold that land and moved a couple miles north to Olney, Illinois.
[Obituary] Summers-Kastler Funeral Home
Esther E. Wells, 98, of Olney, passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.
Esther was born August 4, 1916 in Decker Twp., Richland County, IL, the daughter of James E. and Grace (Newlin) Diel. She married Walter Thomas Wells on April 20, 1946 in Calumet City, IL. He preceded her in death on February 10, 1988.
Esther was a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, served as a Girl Scout Leader, a Cub Scout Den Mother, and a volunteer in many church activities. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Olney.
She is survived by her son, James Wells and wife, Donna of Hammond, IN; Daughter, Ruth Hull and husband, Russell of Ashkum, IL; Daughter, Joyce Kuna and husband, David of Lawton, ND; Daughter, Karen Weir and husband, John of Hammond, IN; Son, Roy Wells and wife, Sheryl of Morgantown, IN; Sisters, Sylvia Moore and husband, Eugene of Newton, IL, Gladys Fitzpatrick of WI, Audra Shan of Olney, and Marilyn Bear and husband, Verne of Paris, IL; Ten grandchildren; Eight great grandchildren and one expectant; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, son, Thomas Joseph, brother, Joseph Diel, and sisters, Mary Margaret Knakmuhs and Nell Ambers.
Spouses
Birth5 Oct 1913, Decker Twp, Richland Co, IL
Death10 Feb 1988, Chicago, Cook Co, IL
MemoLot 244 C1
BurialCrest Haven Mem Park, Claremont, Richland Co, IL
OccupationBoilermaker
FatherWilliam Thomas “Bill” Wells (1881-1975)
MotherMaude May Montgomery (1886-1966)
Misc. Notes
He enlisted in the Army during WWII on 22 Nov 1941 at Ft Benjamin Harrison, IN.
He and his wife were born in Richland Co, IL and lived there until moving to northern Illinois just before they were married. After their marriage April 20, 1946, they moved to northwest Indiana in order to be closer to where he worked in the steel mills, and where they lived until Wm retired in 1975. They then returned to Richland County where they bought a few acres of land on which they lived until his death.
[Obituary] Hammond Times – Feb 11, 1988
Wells, Walter T. – age 74 of Olney, Illinois – formerly of Hessville – passed away Wednesday, February 10, 1988 at University of Chicago Hospital. Survivors: wife, Esther; three daughters, Ruth (Russell) Hull of Ashkum, Illinois, Joyce (David) Kuna of Grafton, North Dakota and Karen (John) Weir of Hammond, [Indiana]; two sons, James (Donna) Wells of Hammond and Roy (Sheryl) Wells of New Eliott, Indiana; seven grandchildren; two step-granddaughters; two step-great-grandsons; three sisters, Lola (Frank) Wade of Noble, Illinois, Elizabeth Gaillard of Highland and Jessie Greeson of Highland [Indiana]; two brothers, Ben (Sally) Wells of Noble, Illinois and David (Juanita) Wells of Highland [Indiana].
Funeral services will be held Monday, February 15 at 10 a.m. from the First Presbyterian Church of Olney with Rev. David McNabb officiating. Burial Crest Haven Memorial Park. Friends are invited to call at the Bocken Funeral Home, 7042 Kennedy Ave., Hessville on Friday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mr. Wells will then be moved to the Summers Funeral Home in Olney, Illinois where friends will be calling on Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m.
Mr. Wells was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Olney; former member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church; member of the Calumet Hot Mill Old Timers Club; American Legion Post #30; Independent Order of the Foresters; formerly an active participant in the Hessville Boy and Girl Scout Little Leagues; World War II U.S. Army veteran; and retired in 1976 from Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. after 35 years as a boilermaker. In lieu of flowers, memorial in favor of the First Presbyterian Church of Olney or to your favorite charity would be appreciated.
[Obituary] The Herald Review, Decatur IL – Feb 13, 1988
OLNEY – Walter T. Wells, 74, of Olney died 8 a.m. Wednesday (Feb. 10, 1988) in University of Chicago Hospital.
Services will be held 10 a.m. Monday in First Presbyterian Church, Olney. Visitation will be 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday in Summers Funeral Home, Olney. Burial will be in Crest Haven Cemetery, Claremont. Memorials: First Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Wells was born in Richland County, son of William and Maude Wells. He was a retired boilermaker for Youngstown Sheet & Tube, a member of First Presbyterian Church of Olney, American Legion Post 30 and an Army veteran of World War II. He married Esther E. Diel in 1946.
Surviving are his wife; sons James of Hammond, Ind.; Roy of New Eliott, Ind.; daughters Mrs. Russell (Ruth) Hull of Ashkum; Mrs. David (Joyce) Kuna of Grafton, N.D.; Mrs. John (Karen) Weir of Hammond, Ind.; brothers Ben of Noble; David of Highland, Ind.; sisters, Mrs. Frank (Lola) Wade of Noble; Elizabeth Gaillard and Jessie Greeson, both of Highland, Ind.; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; two great-step-grandchildren.
One son, two brothers and one sister preceded him in death.
He and his wife were born in Richland Co, IL and lived there until moving to northern Illinois just before they were married. After their marriage April 20, 1946, they moved to northwest Indiana in order to be closer to where he worked in the steel mills, and where they lived until Wm retired in 1975. They then returned to Richland County where they bought a few acres of land on which they lived until his death.
[Obituary] Hammond Times – Feb 11, 1988
Wells, Walter T. – age 74 of Olney, Illinois – formerly of Hessville – passed away Wednesday, February 10, 1988 at University of Chicago Hospital. Survivors: wife, Esther; three daughters, Ruth (Russell) Hull of Ashkum, Illinois, Joyce (David) Kuna of Grafton, North Dakota and Karen (John) Weir of Hammond, [Indiana]; two sons, James (Donna) Wells of Hammond and Roy (Sheryl) Wells of New Eliott, Indiana; seven grandchildren; two step-granddaughters; two step-great-grandsons; three sisters, Lola (Frank) Wade of Noble, Illinois, Elizabeth Gaillard of Highland and Jessie Greeson of Highland [Indiana]; two brothers, Ben (Sally) Wells of Noble, Illinois and David (Juanita) Wells of Highland [Indiana].
Funeral services will be held Monday, February 15 at 10 a.m. from the First Presbyterian Church of Olney with Rev. David McNabb officiating. Burial Crest Haven Memorial Park. Friends are invited to call at the Bocken Funeral Home, 7042 Kennedy Ave., Hessville on Friday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mr. Wells will then be moved to the Summers Funeral Home in Olney, Illinois where friends will be calling on Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m.
Mr. Wells was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Olney; former member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church; member of the Calumet Hot Mill Old Timers Club; American Legion Post #30; Independent Order of the Foresters; formerly an active participant in the Hessville Boy and Girl Scout Little Leagues; World War II U.S. Army veteran; and retired in 1976 from Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. after 35 years as a boilermaker. In lieu of flowers, memorial in favor of the First Presbyterian Church of Olney or to your favorite charity would be appreciated.
[Obituary] The Herald Review, Decatur IL – Feb 13, 1988
OLNEY – Walter T. Wells, 74, of Olney died 8 a.m. Wednesday (Feb. 10, 1988) in University of Chicago Hospital.
Services will be held 10 a.m. Monday in First Presbyterian Church, Olney. Visitation will be 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday in Summers Funeral Home, Olney. Burial will be in Crest Haven Cemetery, Claremont. Memorials: First Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Wells was born in Richland County, son of William and Maude Wells. He was a retired boilermaker for Youngstown Sheet & Tube, a member of First Presbyterian Church of Olney, American Legion Post 30 and an Army veteran of World War II. He married Esther E. Diel in 1946.
Surviving are his wife; sons James of Hammond, Ind.; Roy of New Eliott, Ind.; daughters Mrs. Russell (Ruth) Hull of Ashkum; Mrs. David (Joyce) Kuna of Grafton, N.D.; Mrs. John (Karen) Weir of Hammond, Ind.; brothers Ben of Noble; David of Highland, Ind.; sisters, Mrs. Frank (Lola) Wade of Noble; Elizabeth Gaillard and Jessie Greeson, both of Highland, Ind.; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; two great-step-grandchildren.
One son, two brothers and one sister preceded him in death.
Marriage20 Apr 1946, Calumet City, Cook Co, IL
ChildrenJames William “Jay” (1946-2022)
Thomas Joseph (Died as Child) (1956-1958)