Wilfred R. "Willie" Wessner, 81, of Upper Nazareth Township, passed away Saturday, September 28, 2013 at his residence. BORN: October 20, 1931, in Tatamy, he was a son of the late Clark E. and Anna Fehnel Wessner. He and his companion, Delores Bigley, were together for 28 years. PERSONAL: Willie graduated from Nazareth Area High School in 1949, where he excelled in football and baseball. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, earning the rank of Corporal during the Korean War. He was employed by Bob Daws as a carpenter, retiring at the age of 62. Willie loved the game of baseball, and was a coach for the baseball youth league in Tatamy. He was drafted to the Pirates farm team, and also played for the Tatamy Indians. He pitched quoits for Tatamy and East Lawn Fire Company. He was also a football enthusiast and a NASCAR racing fan. MEMBERSHIPS: He was a life member of the Vigilance Hose Social Club and the East Lawn Fire Co Social Hall, where he served on the board, as well as a member of Holy Family Social Club. SURVIVORS: Along with his companion Delores, Willie is survived by one stepson, Kyle Roth and his wife Sue; two brothers, Casey and his wife Linda, and Mickey and his wife Kathy; one sister, Susan Lattimore and her husband Carl; Delores' children, who were like his own, Lee Ann Slobodow and her husband Alan, Tracy Bigley, and Timothy Bigley and his wife Cindy; four grandchildren, Ashley Carrigan and her husband Cory, Katelyn Van Houten, Drew Bigley, and Sam Ewing; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one brother, Clark Jr., and one sister, Geraldine Boyce. SERVICES: Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 11:00 am in the Schmidt Funeral Home, PC, 407 Belvidere St., Nazareth, with the Rev. Dr. Thomas Lichner presiding. Relatives and friends are invited to call Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home, and Thursday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Forks Cemetery, Stockertown. MEMORIALS: Donations in Willie's memory may be offered to St. Luke's Hospice House, 2455 Black River Rd., Bethlehem, PA 18015.