John Wetzler

A good man gained his angel wings on July 6, 2022.

John was born July 1, 1942, to John F. Jr., and Louise Heller Wetzler, both of whom, along with his sister, Diana, predeceased him. He married Billie Black Wetzler on Sept. 12, 1970, and to this union two funny and talented sons, Brent and Geoffrey, were born. John was a proud 1960 graduate of Lake Hamilton High School and a 1966 graduate of Henderson State Teachers College (now Henderson State University).

Upon graduation from Henderson, John worked for Commercial Credit in Pine Bluff, before going to work in accounting for Dierks Forest. Upon Weyerhaeuser Corporation’s purchase of Dierks, John continued as an accountant in the Hot Springs office. In 1974, John transferred to the office of the sawmill at Wright City, Okla., and in 1989, as the accounting manager of the Craig fiberboard plant at Broken Bow, Okla. Upon the closure of the Craig plant, he transferred back to Hot Springs in 1990, where he worked until his retirement in 2006 following 38 years of service with Dierks and Weyerhaeuser in a variety of accounting positions.

John was extremely proud of his two sons. While they were infants, he would feed, diaper, bathe and play with the boys. As they grew older, John always participated in as many of their activities as possible. He taught them how to play golf and then drove them and some of their friends all over southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas to participate in youth tournaments when not playing a round of golf with them on the Idabel, Okla., Country Club course. When the boys were not playing golf, they played tee-ball, little league and soccer. John went to Tulsa to become a certified soccer coach and referee so he could participate in the game with his boys. When the boys graduated to middle and high school and became involved with the school band and the football team, he made as many trips as possible either chaperoning or just following and cheering them on from the sidelines. John also took the boys on many Saturdays to youth bowling league and road trips to participate in tournaments. John also bowled. He and Bud Cox were state doubles champions in 1972.

He loved his family fiercely and was an avid golfer. Coming in a close second to his love of his family was his love of Razorbacks football, basketball and baseball. He enjoyed many trips to not only Fayetteville and Little Rock to watch them, but made trips to Dallas, Shreveport, Memphis, Atlanta, Columbia (South Carolina), Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Oxford, Starkville, Athens, Tampa, and even went west to see them in Las Vegas and Fort Collins! When he became unable to travel, he watched the Razorbacks games on TV.

John was a member of the Hot Springs Sertoma Club prior to being transferred to Oklahoma in 1974. While living in Idabel, Okla., John served as a deacon and treasurer of First Presbyterian Church. He helped with the development of the Elks Lodge and enjoyed working on the bingo nights! Following the dissolution of the Elks Lodge, John joined the Lions Club. Then upon his return to Hot Springs, he joined the South Hot Springs Lions Club, serving as the president for 1993-1994, and was named the Lion of the Year for 1994-1995.

John continued his work in the church by serving as the Sunday school treasurer/secretary and the treasurer of the Men’s Group at Westminster Presbyterian Church until the advent of COVID.

John is survived by his wife, Billie, his two sons and daughter-in-law, Brent and Nikki Battisto Wetzler of Alexander, and Geoffrey Wetzler of Hot Springs. Also surviving are John’s grandchildren, Lorelei and Allen, bonus grandchildren, Tanya and Joseph, their families, and great-grandchildren; his sister and brotherin-law, Ellen and Larry Hollaway of Baytown, Texas, and his brother and sister-in-law, David and Debbie Wetzler of Hot Springs; along with a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family wishes to express our gratitude to Arkansas Hospice and especially to Amber, Johnny Mae, Brittany, and the hospital staff for their devotion to caring for John.

John is to be cremated and his ashes will be placed in Westminster Presbyterian Church’s columbarium.

A memorial service for John will be held at Westminster at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 11.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to your favorite charity or to Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Online condolences at http://www.caruth-hale.com.