Wesley F. Hasenbank

Wesley Fredrick Hasenbank was a man of his word, not just because he kept his promises but because he acted on the things he said. He said Jesus was worthy of worship, then served faithfully in his church. He said that we should love our neighbor, then worked hard to improve his community. He said that family is a joyous responsibility, then showered his with love and provided for their needs. The small metal cross that he carried in his pocket everyday reminded him of his commitment to the Lord and his desire to please God everywhere he went.

In the early spring of 1926, Albert and Sophie (Bendiksen) Hasenbank were excited about more than just warmer weather ahead. They were expecting the arrival of something much more exciting, and their anticipation was satisfied on March 8 when their little boy, Wesley, was born. Wes grew up in Detroit with his sister, Alice, learning carpentry skills from his father, developing a strong work ethic as the family endured the Great Depression, and strengthening his growing body with a variety of activities. Wes held many swimming records at the YMCA in Detroit that stood for years. He also liked working out on the rings, but after a fall he severely injured his back, a problem that plagued him for the rest of his life.

Wes' father had been raised on his family's farm in the township of Free Soil on the western side of the state. Farm life was not for Albert, however, and he had moved to Detroit at the age of twenty-one to find his own path. Wes, in contrast, loved the country and often spent summers with his cousin Robert in Free Soil, visits that he always looked forward to.

When Wes was fourteen, his father's health took a serious turn and the family moved to the farm in Free Soil where Wes quickly learned what it meant to be the man of the house. He continued to attend school while working the farm and graduated from Free Soil High School with the class of 1943. Wes' mother then insisted that he take agriculture classes for one year with Harlan Pleiness at the Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science, later known as Michigan State University. In the winter, he worked at Norge Manufacturing in Muskegon.

As a young man, Wes joined St. John's Lutheran Church at Peltons Corners, and served the church as head usher. Another regular attendee was a young lady named Ann Woebbeking, and Wes often watched her working with her Sunday School students from his seat in the back pew. They both attended Walther League, a youth organization at the church, and Wes developed a strong admiration for Ann's character and commitment. After Wes walked her home from church one afternoon, they began dating. They fell in love and exchanged wedding vows at St. John's in 1952. They established their new home in the family farmhouse and continued to build their relationship for over fifty years. When Wes and Ann had children, Wes loved being a father. He treated his children with respect and openly showed his love for them. The children respected him so much that he never had to deliver more than a verbal punishment. He and Ann also took in many other young people, providing acceptance and helping them find their way.

Wes used his knowledge of efficient and effective farming techniques to benefit not only his own farm production, but that of others as well. He served others in custom harvesting, helping several farms with cultivating, haying, and combining, while still running his own dairy farm. He worked the dairy farm until 1977. He also had the opportunity to work with the Soil Conservation Service, and began to recognize a need for better farm drainage systems. With the help of a tile company, Wes started a trenching business that contributed greatly to the area. Always expecting the best out of people, Wes would tile the fields in the spring without expecting payment until harvest. Sometimes he knew full well that a farmer would never be able to pay him for his work, but he tiled anyway, knowing that they wouldn't be successful without it. His tile business was in operation until 1995.

Wes believed that community involvement was very important. He served on the Mason County Board of Public Works for over twenty years, was a member of the Free Soil Township Board of Review, the Mason County Milk Producer's Association, and the Mason County Solid Waste Committee. He was also a Charter member of the Mason County Rural Fire Authority in 1996 on which he served until 2004, and was a past director of the Michigan Land Improvement Contractor's Association. Wes' desire to be a good neighbor and help others was rooted in his service at his church. He was instrumental in the merger of his congregation at St. John's with the believers at the Lutheran Church from Riverton Township, envisioning a strong, unified body at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Scottville. Wes served as an elder, a Sunday School teacher, the evangelism chairman, and as Chairman of the Congregation.

Wes loved the creativity and graciousness of God reflected through the out-of-doors. He spent many quiet hours hunting deer, rabbits, and other small game to help provide meals for his family. Later, he left the gun at home and hunted with his camera, taking his beagles or retrievers along. Once he rescued a fawn that was tangled in a fence and, with the help of Doc Etchison, nursed the deer back to health. In later years, he and Ann would vacation during the winter in warmer locations like Hawaii or Arizona. Wes took hundreds of pictures of flowers, sometimes driving long distances, or climbing over rough terrain to get that one perfect shot of a beautiful blooming flower.

Wes adored his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He looked forward to every visit and cherished every grin, hug, and giggle. More than anything else, he wanted his precious ones to know the joy and peace of knowing Jesus. Wes' favorite holiday was Easter, and his hope rested on the truth of Christ's resurrection and the promise of eternal life with Him in heaven. He wanted to share that same hope with his loved ones, and leaves his family with a lasting example of a man who lived what he claimed to believe.

Wes died peacefully with his beloved wife Ann at his side on Friday, December 9, 2005, at the Cherry Hill Haven Hospice Home in Traverse City. His parents and an infant brother preceded him in death. Along with Ann, he will be greatly missed by his three sons, David and his wife Mary, Bruce and his wife Sue, Michael and his wife Sherry; his daughter Rebecca and her husband Richard Gancarz; twelve grandchildren Melanie (Jason) Hargreaves, Christopher (Julie) Hasenbank, Jon (Kate) Hasenbank, Melissa, and Kimberly Hasenbank, Lyndie (Greg) Stokes, Ryan Hasenbank (fiancée Amber Dixon), Micah Hasenbank, Jeremy (Amanda) Gancarz, David, and Jennifer Gancarz, BethAnn Gancarz (fiancée Adam Kozicki), five great-grandchildren Justin Hasenbank, Kade Stokes, Logan, and Carter Hargreaves, and Toni Gancarz; his sister Alice Damkoehler; his cousins Robert (Joan) Hasenbank, and Isabelle Hasenbank; a special niece and nephew, Michelle Stickney and Richard Willoughby; his sisters-in-law Arlene Crofoot, Hellen Woebbeking, Ellen Peck, and Betty Tripp; his brother-in-law Fred Woebbeking; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may meet with Wes' family for a time of visitation on Tuesday, December 13, from 3-5 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. at the Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 14, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Scottville with his pastor, the Rev. James Schroeder, officiating. Burial will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery in Free Soil. Those who wish may make a memorial contribution to Our Savior Lutheran Church, the Alzheimer's Association, Hospice of Michigan, or Lakeshore Animal Friends. Please visit Wes' personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory with his family, or sign the guestbook.