Gayle Mary Paar-Wesson (Sorn), 100 years of age, of Blair, Neb., passed away peacefully March 2, 2023, in her son’s home. Gayle was born July 18, 1922, to Albert J. and Alma (Apffel) Sorn and raised in Mt. Healthy, Ohio. Early in life she went to California where she met George “Bud” Paar, a marine corps staff sergeant from Dubuque. Bud and Gayle were married in 1945. After the war was over Bud returned to work for J.C. Penny Co. in Milwaukee, Wis. In 1960, he was made manager at the Missouri Valley J.C. Penny Store; he passed away in 1966.
Gayle stayed in Missouri Valley, built her home and raised her four children Jan, Rich, Jerry and Keith. She became interested in the church, and community affairs. She helped build the Rand Center and was President of the Board for 10 ½ years. She met Charles Wesson 10 years after Bud’s death. He was an Omaha Firefighter. He also passed away in 1999. She lived in her home in Missouri Valley until the age of 98 when she moved to Blair to live with her son, Keith.
Gayle was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George E. Paar; husband, Charlie Wesson; brothers, Albert L. Sorn and Joseph Sorn; sisters, Edythe C. Sorn and Alma C. Lutterbie; and her daughter-in-law, Mary Paar.
Family remaining to cherish Gayle’s memory are her children, Janice M. (Dale) Schroeder of Orem, Utah, Richard C. (Sharon) Paar of Pocatello, Idaho, Jerry R. (Becky) Paar of Missouri Valley and Keith J. Paar of Blair. Also, remaining are nine grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; as well as her sister, Cris E. (Frank) Kihm of Michigan.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to be distributed at a later date, as below.
Jerry Paar, 32603 140 th St., Missouri Valley, IA 51555 or Keith Paar, 1132 Westridge Drive, Blair, NE 68008
Visitation was Sunday, March 5, 2023, with a wake service with Deacon Mike Carney at Hennessey Funeral Home in Missouri Valley. The funeral mass was held Monday, March 6, 2023, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Missouri Valley. The celebrant was Father Raphael Masabakhwa. The organist was Kris Gash and Elizabeth Dillinger was the vocalist. The vocal selections were “I Did It My Way”, “Let There be Peace on Earth, Let it Begin with Me”. The music selections were “O Eagle’s Wings” and “How Great Thou Art”. Burial will be held March 7, 2023, at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Dubuque, beside her first husband and father of her four children.
Arrangements made by Hennessey Funeral Home Missouri Valley. www.hennesseyonline.com
