Wesche Family

The Wesche Funeral Home, Inc., in January of 1975, observed its sixty- fifth year of service to the people of Henry County and surrounding area.

Albert Frederick Wesche, founder, was born April 28, 1887. He was one of fifteen children, seven boys and eight girls, born to Daniel Frederick Wesche and Frederika (nee Martin) Wesche. Daniel had come to America at the age of nineteen in the year 1858 from Germany and Frederika had come from Prussia. In 1865 Daniel purchased a forty acre farm and this was the start of the Wesche homestead we know today. Other forty acre plots were added later. The fifteen Wesche children were born at the family home west of Ridgeville Corners.

Wesche Funeral Home before remodeling

On September 17, 1911, Albert married Emma Sonnenberg, born January 2, 1889, to Christopher and Wilhelmina (nee Panning) Sonnenberg. Four children were born to them: Mildred (Riemer), Otis, Hermann Daniel, and Norma (Ernest).

The firm was founded in 1910 when, soon after becoming licensed to practice, Albert established his furniture and undertaking business at Ridgeville Corners. In those days, horse-drawn vehicles were the accepted mode of transportation. While a few motor cars were in use, they couldn't make their way through the mud and snow of the roads and lanes of that day as dependably as could old Dobbin. It was in 1915 that Mr. Wesche put into service his first motorized equipment. The funeral home, as we know it today, had not yet become a part of this scene. Funeral services were held from the home or church and in most cases, the body of the deceased did not leave the residence until it was taken to the church or cemetery.

In 1926, Mr. Wesche formed a partnership with William Hagen of Hamler and the business was located in Napoleon at the corner of Perry and Clinton Streets. The firm was then known as Wesche & Hagen.

Mr. Wesche purchased the George Hahn property at 830 Scott Street in 1931 and converted the residence to a funeral home. The partnership with Mr. Hagen was dissolved in 1932 and Mr. Wesche operated his business alone until 1940 when he took in his son, Hermann, into partnership.

Ham, as he was known to everyone, became licensed to practice in 1940. After serving the necessary internship under his father, he continued his education at the Cincinnati College of Embalming, where he graduated in 1939. Here he was an honor student, president of his class and awarded the school's Nunnamaker Medal for General Proficiency. He married Margery I. Borris on June 29, 1941, and they had three sons, Michael James 8/16/47, Thomas Albert 10/19/49, and Joseph Hermann 1/15/53.

Albert Wesche died in April, 1949, and his son then assumed the entire ownership of the business. As each phase of the business became more specialized, the funeral home and furniture store came to be conducted as separate operations. Wesche's Furniture Inc. was sold in 1961 to Rupp's Furniture of Archbold, Ohio, who operated the business until fire destroyed the building. This building was then remodeled and is presently occupied by Gilbert & Herr Drug Store.

The Wesche Funeral Home was operated by Hermann Wesche for a period of twenty-four years until his death on September 17, 1973. His activities were many - being very active in community and church affairs, plus having a tremendous interest in outdoor sports and ecology. One of his most dedicated contributions was to his church where he served for five years as Chairman of the Financial Committee for the building of the new St. Paul Lutheran Church and School.

For a period of sixty-three years, the Wesche Funeral Home was under the direction of a father-son sponsored business.

Submitted by Margery Wesche