Jay "Pete" Wehrle

MOUNT PLEASANT - Jay "Pete" Wehrle, 85, died Sunday, August 8, 2021, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.

Pete was born September 8, 1935, in Rome, Iowa, the son of Walter and Anna (Hoffman) Wehrle. He obtained his GED from Burlington High School. On November 21, 1959, Pete was united in marriage to Sally Swailes at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. Pete began his working career at the Ordinance Plant (IAAP) in Middletown where he worked assembling medium- and large-caliber ammunition for the United States Department of Defense from 1958-1964. He then went to work for Monroe (Litton Industries) in Burlington selling calculators and other electric office machines. He was a good salesman and was promoted to Branch Manager of Sales for Monroe in Waterloo. Pete would stay in Waterloo during the week and come home to Mount Pleasant on the weekends. In 1977, a business opportunity in Mount Pleasant presented itself and was offered to Pete. He and his longtime friend, Ron Anderson, purchased Hannum's Plumbing and Heating. After a few years in business, Pete bought out Ron's interest in the business. He went on to operate Hannum's for a number of years until his retirement in 1997.

First and foremost, Pete was a family man. Family was everything to him and he was a constant source of support, encouragement, and love to those closest to him. Pete was also an avid sportsman who liked to spend his free time outdoors. He enjoyed golfing and bicycling, and was a skilled fisherman and hunter. He also enjoyed hunting mushrooms each spring and always seemed to know where to find a "mess" of them. Pete found time to give back to the local outdoor community by serving on the Grant Cemetery Board, as well as the Henry County Conservation Board, for a number of years. He was a faithful member of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.

Pete is survived by his son Mike (Kimberly) Wehrle of Little Rock, AR; two daughters Lisa O'Donnell of Cedar Rapids, Susan (Josh) Day of Batavia, IL; seven grandchildren, Luke, Rachael, and Caroline Wehrle, Tyler (Blake) O'Donnell, Emma, Caden, and Cece Day; a brother Roger (Susan) Wehrle of PonteVedra, FL; five sisters Betty Ensminger of Mount Pleasant, Kay (Jack) Behmer of Urbandale, Diane (Bob) Olaszek of Plainfield, IL, Elizabeth Kerr of Mount Pleasant, Ginny (Jim) Ritchey of Burlington and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, loving wife Sally, brother Jack Wehrle and sister Shirley Wehrle.

Public visitation will be held from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Friday, August 13, 2021 at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel in Mount Pleasant. A private Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:30 p.m. with Father Paul Connolly, Celebrant. Inurnment will be in the Grant Cemetery near Rome, Iowa. A memorial fund has been established for the Grant Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed at Powell Funeral Home Facebook Page and at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.