Brian "Tigger" Wells
October 29, 1961 — June 7, 2015
Brian Charles Wells “Tigger”, was born on October 29, 1961 to Len and Jeanie (Lehan) Wells in Harlan, Iowa. He was baptized, had his first communion, and was confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, where he remained a life-long member.
He attended St. Paul’s Catholic School in Defiance through the eighth grade before attending Harlan Community High School. He was an asset to the football team and graduated with the Class of 1980.
Brian worked with his dad at Wells Pumping Service out of Defiance before taking over the business when his dad retired. He later went to work at Clean Air Filter out of Defiance until an injury on the job disabled him in March of 2003.
On September 22, 2005, Brian was united in marriage to Debra Lappe in Harlan and in addition to becoming a husband, he became a step-dad to her two children: Jeremy and Stacy.
He enjoyed being outdoors, hunting, fishing, and mushroom hunting in the spring. He was also a great gardener and liked to can and freeze the vegetables he grew in his garden. His love of sports continued beyond high school football and he joined a pool league and a softball team. Brian loved life and was always looking for his next new adventure.
Brian had been admitted to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Tuesday, June 2nd. It was there that he died on Sunday, June 7, 2015 at the age of fifty-three years, seven months, and nine days. He was preceded in death by his mother.
He is survived by his wife Deb Wells of Defiance, Iowa; step-son Jeremy Kruse and his wife Julie of Panama, Iowa; step-daughter Stacy Kruse of Manilla, Iowa; five step-grandchildren: Morgan, Kerrigan, Braylan, Nolan, and Collin; father Len Wells and his wife Darlene of Denison, Iowa; sisters Kelly McCoy of Elkhorn, Nebraska and Kristina and her husband James Chance of Defiance, Iowa; other family members and many friends.
PDF Printable Version
He attended St. Paul’s Catholic School in Defiance through the eighth grade before attending Harlan Community High School. He was an asset to the football team and graduated with the Class of 1980.
Brian worked with his dad at Wells Pumping Service out of Defiance before taking over the business when his dad retired. He later went to work at Clean Air Filter out of Defiance until an injury on the job disabled him in March of 2003.
On September 22, 2005, Brian was united in marriage to Debra Lappe in Harlan and in addition to becoming a husband, he became a step-dad to her two children: Jeremy and Stacy.
He enjoyed being outdoors, hunting, fishing, and mushroom hunting in the spring. He was also a great gardener and liked to can and freeze the vegetables he grew in his garden. His love of sports continued beyond high school football and he joined a pool league and a softball team. Brian loved life and was always looking for his next new adventure.
Brian had been admitted to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Tuesday, June 2nd. It was there that he died on Sunday, June 7, 2015 at the age of fifty-three years, seven months, and nine days. He was preceded in death by his mother.
He is survived by his wife Deb Wells of Defiance, Iowa; step-son Jeremy Kruse and his wife Julie of Panama, Iowa; step-daughter Stacy Kruse of Manilla, Iowa; five step-grandchildren: Morgan, Kerrigan, Braylan, Nolan, and Collin; father Len Wells and his wife Darlene of Denison, Iowa; sisters Kelly McCoy of Elkhorn, Nebraska and Kristina and her husband James Chance of Defiance, Iowa; other family members and many friends.
PDF Printable Version
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Brian "Tigger" Wells, please visit our flower store.