Deborah L. Wesely

Deborah L. Wesely

June 28, 1954 – April 5, 2020

Deborah Louise Wesely, a loving mother of four, passed away on April 5, 2020 at the age of 65.  Deb was born on June 28, 1954 in Fairfield, Iowa to Robert Barry Cox and Ruth Jean Hartman Cox.  She graduated from Fairfield High School (IA) in 1972.

Deb worked mainly in the administrative and finance field most of her career and was always well regarded for her work ethic and the great relationships she built at work with people who became lifelong friends, even outside the office.  She retired from the US District Court in 2016.  While she loved her job, she loved being able to be at home and do the other things she loved.

She had a passion for gardening, scrapbooking, and day outings with her daughter, her sister, and her friends.  She built an elaborate garden in her yard and was always so proud of her giant hibiscus flowers when they would bloom.  She loved the smell of her lilacs, her roses, and loved to watch the wildlife in her yard.  Her favorite was her cardinal that would come and tap on her window frequently.  She would always say “Grandma came to visit me today…”

Deb loved to travel.  She loved the ocean, sailing, and seafood.  She also fell in love with mountains after her trip to Estes Park, Colorado with her daughter Julie in 2012.  Something about enjoying a cup of coffee or listening to a rushing mountain river while looking at the mountains soothed her soul.  She returned there several times with Julie.  She loved spending time and traveling with her sister, Karen, and her sister-in-law, Sara, and they could always turn a 4.5 hour road trip into an all-day affair with bathroom breaks and shopping trips.  Time never mattered, she was having fun.  She definitely knew how to have fun and made so many amazing memories in her life.  People loved her smile, her laugh, her friendship, and her.  She had an amazing sense of humor, and baked the BEST cookies using her “secret ingredient.”

Deb loved with her whole heart.  She loved her children fiercely, with every ounce of her being.  She would always say “Nobody loves you like your mother!” and there was never a truer statement.  Every year she would call her children and sing them happy birthday as loud as she could, and it always made their birthday the best one yet.  Her grandchildren were her pride and joy, and she made sure to create a special relationship with each of them.  She loved being goofy with them, and they loved her so much.

One of the strongest people you will ever know, Deb started her battle with Stage 4 Lung Cancer in May of 2019.  After 11 long months of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation, her body couldn’t fight anymore.  She was a “badass” as her daughter Julie so lovingly called her throughout this process, hanging on as long as she could at the end.  She was wrapped in hugs from head to toe as she took her last breaths and was called home to Heaven.  We know that she looked forward to seeing her mom and dad again – how happy she must now be.

Deborah Louise Wesely is survived by her children: Jason (Renee) Wesely, Julie (Stephen) Wesely-Zielinski, Jeremy (Jennie) Wesely, and Jodie Wesely; siblings: Karen (Tim) Buchan, Steve (Sara) Cox, and Eric (Deb) Cox; seven grandchildren: Claire, Chloe, Zachary, Reese, Harper, Case, and Everett; and her stepmother, Sharon Cox.  Preceded in death by her father, Robert Barry Cox and her mother, Ruth Jean Cox.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE will be announced later.  Memorials are suggested to V.N.A. Hospice.