Nancy J. Wessel, 73, of Goff, KS, passed away Saturday, October 19, 2024 at the Midland Hospice in Topeka, KS, with her family by her side. She was born September 28, 1951 in Hiawatha, KS, the daughter of Vernon Pete and Mary Jean (Gibbs) Burnett. She graduated from Holton High School in 1969.
            
Nancy married Barry McQueen in 1972. They later divorced. To this union were born two children, Crystal and Shannon.
            
On July 1, 1987, Nancy was united in marriage to Leo J. Wessel. To this union, Leo brought three children, Rebecca, Paula and Marsha.
            
Nancy wore many hats in her work life. She was a waitress at Trails Café in Holton. She sold real-estate, telephone operator in Hiawatha, was a bail bondsman for six years and a parts manager for a boat dealership in Kansas City.  Nancy drove a school bus for the Holton and Wetmore school districts for over 27 years. Nancy said with a smile “I never could decide what I wanted to do when I grew up”
            
She was a Den Mother with Boy Scouts, Girl Scout member and Leader- earning the God and Community Award and 4-H Leader. She was a member of St. James Catholic Church Council (although not catholic) and the Goff Fire Department and EMS for 20 years.
            
Survivors include her husband Leo of 37 years; 5 children, Crystal Sims (Robert) of Holton, KS, Shannon McQueen (Melissa) of Wetmore, KS, Rebecca Wessel (Chris Carlson) of Silver Lake, KS, Paula Pederson (Chris) of Clay Center, KS and Marsha Etherton (Andy) of Independence, MO; two sisters, Jeanne M. Burnett and Belinda M. Cashman-Burnett  both of Holton, KS; 8 grandchildren, Bishop, Jess, Desirae, Dakota, Kael, Cole, Tatum and Brayden; and 8 great grandchildren, Vanessa, Joslynn, Bryson, Cayden, Javiah and Aryah, Max and Ava.
            
She was preceded in death by a sister, Pamela Burnett.
            
Important statement by Nancy, she wanted it to be known… “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the kind of car I drove…..but the world may be different because I was important in the life a child”
           
Funeral Services will be held 10:00 A.M. Thursday, October 24, 2024 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. The burial will follow to the Holton Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 5-7 P.M. Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at Mercer Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Wetmore Post #282 c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave the family a message, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com