Andrea M. Wensel

SIOUX CITY -- Andrea Mary Celeste (Chiles) Wensel, R.N., 69, of Sioux City died Oct. 9, 2009, following an extended illness.

An open house to memorialize Andrea (Chiles) Wensel will be 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Long Lines Family Recreation Center, third floor conference room in Sioux City. A tribute will be held at 3 p.m. for Andrea, who died Oct. 9 following an extended illness.

Andrea was born Aug. 5, 1940, in Sioux City. She was the only daughter of Gemelia Mary (Skaff) Chiles and William Harvey Chiles of Sioux City.

"Andie" graduated from Bishop Heelan Catholic High School and Briar Cliff College. She was an advertising writer for the Sioux City Journal. She later went on to become a registered nurse. She earned her nursing degree at St. Luke's School of Nursing and worked at various hospitals throughout Siouxland. For the two decades prior to her illness, she served as the nurse for the Boys and Girls Home and Family Services of Sioux City, where she was truly devoted to the well-being of the children for whom she cared deeply.

She was an avid lifetime reader, an art enthusiast and an advocate of education who involved herself in Siouxland's art community. She enjoyed the company and friendship of her large extended family. She was a loving daughter, a tireless mother, a proud grandmother, a devoted wife, a dedicated nurse, a loyal friend, and someone who had a smile for everyone she met.

She leaves behind a husband, Robert Thomas Wensel of Sioux City; three sons, J.P. Wensel and his wife, Karen Crocker-Wensel of Eugene, Ore., Ransom Wensel of Virginia Beach, Va., and Trenton Wensel and his wife, Ingrid Wensel of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; a daughter, Cassandra Wensel-Kanne and her husband, Mike Kanne of Tucson, Ariz.; seven grandchildren, granddaughters, Ariana, Jocelyn and Sydney (Wensel) and grandsons, Angus, Bannock, Brock (Wensel) and Thackery (Kanne); her cousins, Mark Skaff and his wife, Michelle, Mary Skaff and Patricia Skaff, all of Sioux City, Karen (Anderson) Williams and her husband, John Williams, and John Skaff II and his wife, Patricia, all of Lodi, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved uncle, U.S.M.C. Sgt. John Skaff Sr.; her aunt, Jean (Hedlund) Skaff, and their son, Thomas Skaff.

In nomine Patre, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Siouxland Humane Society, 1015 Terrace View Ave., Sioux City, IA 51103.