Edward L. "Ed" Wesemann

Edward L. “Ed” Wesemann, 97, of Pingree Grove area passed away May 2, 2023, at NW Huntley Hospital. He was born May 1, 1926, in Burlington, the son of Edward G. and Ida (Plote) Wesemann. Ed attended the Lowrie school in Elgin for kindergarten and first grade. After moving to Udina in 1933 where his parents took over the Udina Triangle restaurant and Standard Oil and Gas Station, he attended three grade schools in Udina, West Udina, and East Udina one room schools and a new two room school. He graduated from Plato Twp High School with the Class of 1944. While at Udina, he spent many hours “pumping gas” at the station. In the Spring of 1943, Ed’s family moved to a recently bought farm on U.S. Hwy 20 just west of Pingree Grove and rented out the Udina Triangle business. Ed’s dad then started farming because during WWII most of the things sold at Udina were rationed and hard to get. When Ed turned 18, the draft board said they wanted him in the service because Ed had a younger brother to take his place on the farm. Ed went into the Army in 1944 and spent a year and a half in the European theater in France and Germany during WWII. After he was discharged in August 1946, he went back to work on the farm. In April 1947, he took over the gas station part of the Udina Triangle and ran that until June of 1951 when he took over the new Standard Oil station at Routes 20, 47, and 72 called Starks Triangle Service at Starks, Il. He ran Starks until the summer of 1978. After that he spent his time managing his properties since his father passed away August 1952. On October 24, 1953, he married Marnie H. Daly at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Plato. They lived in the home they built since 1955 on U.S. Hwy 20. Ed was a lifelong member of the St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and served on the church board for 16 years in the capacity of Treasurer, Secretary, and Vice President. He served on the School Dist. 301 Board for 16 years as the Secretary. He volunteered at the Elgin St. Joseph Hospital for 30 years from 1984 to 2014. He was a life member of the Hampshire VFW Post 8043 serving as Commander, Trustee, Chaplain, and Service Officer. He was a life member of the American Legion post and AMVETS. Ed was also a life member of the Northern Illinois Steam Power Club where he was in charge of the handicapped parking lot and played his accordion over the park’s PA system. He was one of the club charter members of the Northern Illinois John Deere Two-Cylinder Club and McHenry County Antique Farm Equipment Association of Illinois. His hobbies included playing the piano accordion, collecting, and restoring vintage John Deere Two-Cylinder tractors that he took to parades and shows. He was a dedicated circus fan belonging to the Circus Fans Association of America for over 50 years. He was a Model A Ford enthusiast having a 1931 Model A in running order that he bought as his first car in December 1947. He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn (Dale) Hartmann of West Bend, WI; his son Philip (Dana) Wesemann; grandchildren, Mark (Carol) Hartmann, Josh (Cat) Hartmann, and Lance Hartmann; great-grandchildren, Montgomery, Sabrina, and Carter Hartmann. He is preceded by his parents; brother, Alvin; and wife, Marnie on October 20, 2020. Funeral Services will be at 11 AM on Monday, May 8, at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 43W301 Plank Rd. in Plato Center with Pastor Thomas Eaves officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Lakewood Memorial Park Cemetery in Elgin. Visitation will be at the church prior to services on Monday from 9:30 to 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Ed Wesemann to the church.

Edward L. "Ed" Wesemann

May 1, 1926 - May 2, 2023