Wendell R. Essley, 91
Wendell R. Essley, 91, Post Falls, Idaho, passed away Jan. 5, 2023, at The Schneidmiller House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
He was born June 28, 1931, in Viola, Ill., to Wendell F. and Irene Essley.
Wendell went to Viola Grade School, where as a small community they had all eight grades in one school. In the sixth grade, he became interested in music and started playing the trumpet. He was also part of the baseball and basketball teams. Wendell graduated from Viola as the valedictorian and was also the valedictorian of his graduating class of 1949 from Coeur d’Alene High School.
In 1945, his family moved to Coeur d’Alene and he spent the next four years at Coeur d’Alene High, where he played the trumpet in the band and orchestra. He was the president of his sophomore class and was a member of the Honors Society all four years. Wendell served one year on the Student Council and belonged to the Latin Club.
As a teenager, Wendell enjoyed playing in a dance band at “The Little Round Table Club.” Many of his happy years were spent in the DeMolay Organization, where he became a master counselor.
Wendell attended North Idaho Junior College, where he became interested in chorus. He then enrolled at Washington State College and was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He worked on the weekends with musical groups throughout the area. In 1953, he graduated with a BA degree in business and married Ella Claire Courtney that same year. He was then drafted in the U.S. Army and served two years and was discharged in 1955. Wendell and Ella Claire had three daughters over the next three years.
After his discharge, he started working at Mobil Oil in Spokane, Wash. In 1959, he moved to Coeur d’Alene, where he began working for Forest Auto Wrecking. In 1962, he opened his own business, “Essley Auto Wrecking.” Wendell grew and expanded the business into a regionally known enterprise.
In 1971, they purchased 5 acres, where they raised their family. He really loved living in Idaho and it had always been his dream for this kind of life.
Wendell is past president of the Musicians Union, served on the board of directors for Phi Gamma Delta, For-Mark, Inc., and past president of North West Quik-Way Teletype Line. He was an active member of the V8 and Edsel Car clubs; traveling to many conventions and car shows in Canada and the U.S. He was a member of the Early Ford Classic Car Collectors. He enjoyed playing his weekly penny poker games with the guys.
His wife, Ella Claire, passed away Nov. 8, 2000. They were married for 47 years.
He is survived by his three daughters: Jereen (Tom), Dona (John), and Linda (Ben); five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother John (Carolyn); life partner for the last 21 years Vonnie Satchwell.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon with a funeral service at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, at the English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Burial will take place at Forest Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. A reception will follow the graveside service at the funeral chapel.
Visit Wendell’s memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.englishfuneralchapel.com
