Weddle Jr., Delbert E. 1947-2025 St. Joseph, Mo.
Delbert Edwin Weddle Jr, 77, peacefully returned to his heavenly home on May 9, 2025. Del was born Nov. 27, 1947 to Delbert and Alice (Wyatt) Weddle, in St. Joseph, and graduated from Central High School in 1966. He went on to study jewelry and horology (watch making) at Northwest Missouri State University, in Maryville, Missouri.
Del paid the utmost attention to the details in all aspects of life. This proving beneficial many times over the years and it is what made him an exceptional artist and craftsman. He was a blacksmith by trade and was a highly skilled jeweler, working at Halburt Jewelers for 34 years, and then with Jewelry Trade Services for nearly 15 years before retiring. As a knife maker he would often showcase his work at local shows and he especially enjoyed Prairie Days at the St. Joseph Museum.
He loved spending time fly fishing and Roaring River topped the list of his favorite places. He raced motorcross as a young man and later in life that passion transformed into a Harley and trips to Sturgis with lifelong friends. He was a member of the Corvette Club, The NRA and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Del had an appreciation for good music and that led him to the drums and playing in a band for a short time.
Del was a patriot and passionate about many things but he loved nothing in life as much as he loved his family.
Del was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Jay Dee Weddle; daughter, Wendy Kirschbaum; brother-in-law, Jim Schilling; mother-in-law, Carolyn Garver; father-in-law, Robert “Bud” White; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bob and Carol White.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Amy (Mike) Shelton, Sara Berry; grandsons, Jhett Kirschbaum, Garet (Kelsey Huffer) Cline, Dakota (Katie) Shelton, Gentry Cline and Colt Berry; great-grand-daughter, Bristol Shelton; sister, Sherry Schilling; nieces, Nicole (Rick) Keck and Tracy Schilling; great-nieces, Audrey and Amanda Keck; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, David and Janelle Embrey.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at the Heaton-Bowman-Smith-Sidenfaden Chapel, in St. Joseph. Funeral Services will be on Thursday, May 15, 2025, starting at 1 p.m. at the Heaton-Bowman-Smith-Sidenfaden Chapel, in St. Joseph.
To honor Del’s love for his country, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to The Tunnel to Towers Foundation www.t2t.org. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
