Henry Burrel Wissel 89

Henry Burrel Wissel was born on April 8, 1915 at the Wissel family farm in Roca, Lancaster County, Nebraska. He was the third son born to Henry and Viola (Martin) Wissel. He was named Henry Burrel Wissel, joining his brothers Paul Martin and Ward Milton. A few years later Keith Elmer and Duane Edward completed the five-boy family.

Henry died November 30, 2004 at Swedish Medical Center, Arapahoe County, in the City of Englewood, Colorado. He was 89 years, 7 months, and 22 days of age at the time of his passing.

His younger years were full of learning and laughter on the farm. He attended public school, practicing music and completing his assigned tasks. This is the same school his father had attended, along with other family members before and after him. His elementary education was received at the #97 School. For years he played in a community band, with his father and brothers, and other relatives and friends. He would play in all day events, wearing starched stiff white shirts, unable to participate in some of the fun events that were happening at the same time. His only pay was a bright shiny silver dollar.

He attended high school in Hickman, Nebraska until his family moved to Kiowa County, Colorado. The new home place was located nine miles south of Galatea. His twelfth grade was completed at Eads High School. While attending Eads High School, he participated in the school band, where his trumpet duets brought many honors to the Eads High School Music Department.

After moving to Colorado and adjusting to the differences in agricultural environments, it became apparent that changes needed to be made. This was during the drought, and his family was struggling to make ends meet. So Burrel, as his family called him, went to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps. He served two different terms in the CCC, spending his labor near Granby, Boulder and Walden areas. The crews thinned the forest, and built split rail boundary fences.

A quote from Mr. James Young, Camp Superintendent, written on his certificate of discharge from the CCC camp states, "Burrel Wissel has proved to be one of the best truck drivers employed in our fleet. He has at all times proven to be industrious, capable, and dependable. He was an excellent member of the Civilian Conservation Corps."

Returning to Eads in 1936 he was a farm laborer, and also his own farmer.

He married Ruby Zelma Buck on May 18, 1941 in Johnson, Kansas. In May 1942 Burrel was drafted into service with Uncle Sam, at Pueblo, Colorado, into the Army Air Corps. During his time in the service, he achieved the rank of Corporal and acting Sergeant. He served as a Military Police Officer while stationed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He served in the European Theatre of Operations seeing service in England, France, Belgium, and Germany. He was able to visit the old family property while in Germany. He ended his duty with heavy bomber maintenance with the 453rd Bombardment Squadron. He was honorably discharged on December 20, 1945 at Fort Logan, Colorado.

He then returned to Eads, where he entered the trucking business. He primarily hauled cattle to market, owning his own tractor and pulling commercial trailers. When a terrible snowstorm blanketed Eastern Colorado, the cattle were moved out to other parts of the country, and the trucking venture ended.

In 1947 he attended, via the GI Bill, the State Barber College in Pueblo, Colorado. He successfully completed the courses, and became an apprentice barber in 1947. He became a licensed Colorado Master Barber in 1948. Upon returning to Eads, he worked for Harold "Red" Barnes in the local barber shop. In December 1949 he purchased the barbershop and continued to own and operate the business full time until 1969, using the slogan "We need your head in our business". In 1969 he sold the barbershop to John Brannon. Burrel maintained an active Colorado barber license until his death.

On December 10th, 1950 Burrel and Ruby welcomed to their family their first son, Kenneth Allen Wissel. Six years later, they welcomed their second son David Burrel Wissel on August 20th, 1956.

Along with his business as a barber, he became a federal employee with the Selective Service System in 1949. He served as the Kiowa County Local Draft Board Clerk. His office was located in the back of the barbershop, on Main Street, in Eads. He had an opportunity in August 1969 to become a full time employee, at State Headquarters, in downtown Denver. His duty was changed in 1971 when he was promoted and transferred to Pueblo, where he was the Executive Secretary. He was responsible for all functions and operations of the office. At the end of his tenure, he was supervising the entire southern half of the state. After 34 years of service, he retired from Selective Service on March 26, 1976. This was just prior to the nation changing from a mandatory draft, to an "all volunteer military."

After he retired from the Selective Service, Burrel became an employee of Kiowa County. Initially, he worked as a truck driver for Road & Bridge. The position of caretaker of the courthouse building and grounds became vacant and he filled the position. At first, he was only responsible for the courthouse grounds. However, he ultimately became responsible for the building too. He retired from Kiowa County on August 1, 1986.

Not only did Burrel have a full working career, he was also active in his children and grandchildren’s lives. During the formative years of his children there were numerous trips to various athletic events. Summer baseball constituted the volunteer family and friend’s network of cars, pickups and whatever would make the trip to the next town so all could participate. From these endeavors, he extended into driving almost every school bus route for Kiowa County RE-1, for more than one year and a majority of every extra-curricular activity from football, basketball, wrestling, band and anything else the School District needed.

Then during the summers when his grandchildren would come to visit their grandparents he would take his grandchildren with him to work at the courthouse. There Burrel’s grandchildren would help him clean the courthouse, set up the sprinkling system, or just chase him while he was cutting the grass on the riding lawnmower. Burrel would then cook wonderful and delicious meals for dinner when work was over with for the day.

Along with being active in his children and grandchildren’s lives, Burrel also had an active community life. He was one of the original "charter members" of the local golf course, Eads Golf and Country Club. He was also very active in the bowling community and won several tournament titles, both local and state. He loved to compete. Whether it was shooting "clay pigeons" for a turkey, a family game of bowling or other sporting activities, he usually won.

He was a lifetime member of the IOOF Lodge (Odd Fellows) #177, the American Legion Post #125 in Eads and the VFW Post #3411 in Kit Carson. Burrel was also a member of the United Methodist Church in Eads for over 50 years and an associate member of the South Park Community Church in Fairplay.

Burrel was involved in several community activities. One, which was near and dear to his heart, was to upgrade the quality of over the air television service to the area. He formed relationships with like-minded neighbors in Cheyenne County, and they worked together to form the Kiowa – Cheyenne County Television Association. Many an afternoon was spent driving around the country west of Eads in search of high ground.

Burrel drove a Dodge station wagon, pulling a homemade trailer with a folding mast. When the ground was found, the rig would pull off to the shoulder, the mast was raised up (with a large TV antenna on the top) to the full extent of its three sections. A portable generator was carried in the back of the car, along with a portable black and white TV set. The generator was started, then the TV, and the hunt was on for any visible reception.

The end result was a series of TV repeater stations in both counties. This allowed the Eads and central Kiowa County areas to receive local Colorado TV stations. The same benefit was also received in Cheyenne County. This effort predates cable systems, the TV reception sure improved for several years.

His hobbies were fast and varied. The advances of technology and science always intrigued him. He read magazines and newspapers every day. He could identify cars of all makes, shapes, and years of manufacture upon sight. He enjoyed trading cars, lots of cars, different makes, pickups, trailers, and campers. He was a car-trading entrepreneur. Burrel was also a die-hard Denver Broncos fan no matter if they had a winning season or not. He would always be cheering and coaching the team from his chair in front of the television. He also never missed out on a CU Buffs-Nebraska Cornhuskers game, always rooting for Colorado.

He loved a good laugh, and was the king of the one-liners. He was joking and laughing until his death. When Burrel was in the building, you would always know he was there by his infamous laugh. Those who knew him will never forget his laughter.

Upon finally retiring, for good this time, he and Ruby made the decision to move to Fairplay, Colorado. However, Ruby was not fully retired and Burrel moved to Fairplay ahead of Ruby to care for his newborn granddaughter Jennifer and his grandson Brandon. This was the most challenging of all his jobs.

They continued to live in both the Eads and Fairplay communities until July 2003. Health issues and concerns contributed to their moving back to Eads, where Burrel was a resident of the Weisbrod Memorial Hospital Nursing Home until his death.

Burrel had two sons, 9 grandchildren, 7 great grand children and 1 great-great grand child. Kenneth Allen, his 1st born son, has 4 girls and 3 grandchildren. Listed are Ken’s daughters and their children: Jody (married to Steve Wolf). Their children are Brenden and Sarah and are Burrel’s great grandchildren. Rebecca Wissel; Erin (married to Phillip White).Rachael (married to Samuel Underwood). They have 1 son Dakota. He is Burrel’s great grandson.

David Burrel, his 2nd born son, has 5 children. He has 4 boys and 1 daughter. Mark Medina (married to Jeona). Their children are Nicholas and Jessica. Nicholas has a daughter Makenna who is Burrel’s great-great granddaughter. Jeffrey Medina. His children are Daniel and Vanessa. Brandon Wissel; Jennifer Wissel; Dominic Wissel. He will be greatly missed by all!

Funeral services for Henry Burrel Wissel were held on Saturday, December 4, 2004 at the United Methodist Church in Eads. The Rev. Gary Goettel and Rev. Kim Graber officiated. Casket bearers were: Tom Richards, John Philpy, Marty Miller, Terry Laird, Tim Weeks and Walt Immer. Gary Liesen and Sylvia Weeks were the vocalists accompanied by Philomene Liesen. Special family friend, Brian Woodyard provided a special number called "Mariah". The final committal services were held at the Eads Cemetery with full military honors provided by the American Legion Post of Eads and the William Kimmel Post 9700 of Cheyenne Wells. Brown Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.