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Thorsen, Wesley Donald

December 12, 1927 –
 May 29, 2019

Obituary

Our dear father, Wesley Thorsen, passed away on May 29, 2019 in Plano Texas.  He was born on December 12, 1927 in Racine Wisconsin and in his 91 years relocated and traveled quite a bit!  Wes completed his college career with a teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. During his college years he enlisted in the Navy and served in several cities before his discharge at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. Wes met his future bride, Marie Tremeear on a blind date and after a short courtship, they married on September 3, 1949.  He began teaching and decided after a few years to pursue a new career in the insurance business.  Sentry insurance sent Wes and his family to six cities in seventeen years.  After the moves from Wisconsin to California, he found his real passion for success with Chilton Corporation (TRW) based in Texas.  He climbed the corporate ladder until he decided that it was time to retire in 1990 and stay in Richardson, Texas. Wes and Marie’s leisure pursuits focused on golf, family, golf, travel and golf!!!  They traveled for years finding beautiful locations to tee off.  He never forgot to mention their 31 trips to Hawaii!! Wes loved his girls and always let us know.  He is survived by: Daughters Lynda Ruiz, Debra Jester, Laura Fossier and Tamra Thorsen Son-in-laws Mark Jester and Len Fossier Grandchildren Nathan Jester and wife Amber, Rachel Phillips and husband Larry, Sarah Saadeh and husband Michael, Eden Smith and husband Craig, Brittany Fossier, Trey Fossier, Ariana Driskell and husband Dillan Great-grandchildren Kayden, Adrianna, Norah, Alice, Holly, Gemma and Kinsley Preceded in death by his wife Marie, grandchild Aaron Jester and son-in-law Tony Ruiz. We will be celebrating Wes’ life at Atria Canyon Creek, June 15, 2019 at 2 pm.  440 Independence Parkway, Plano TX, 75075.  Look for us in the Ballroom.  We will have someone guiding you from the front entrance and Building 2.   Please leave the family condolences and share memories on this website.  

Arrangements under the direction of:

Aria Cremation Service and Funeral Home

19310 Preston Road

Dallas, Texas 75252

(214) 306-6700

    CAROL YODER
    6 Jun 2019
    3:36pm

    Dear Debby, Mark, Nathan, Amber. Rachael, & Larry Sorry for your loss. He had a great long life with a wonderful family.
    God bless you all. Carol Yoder

    Martha &Dick Lodge
    6 Jun 2019
    5:12pm

    We are so sorry for your loss but feel he is definitely playing golf with your mom now

    Terri and Doug
    6 Jun 2019
    6:14pm

    We are deeply saddened by Wes’s passing…we wish your entire family peace and strength as you remember the good times and celebrate his wonderful life!! Hugs to all !! ❤️❤️

    Annette D Hernandez
    6 Jun 2019
    8:02pm

    I am sorry for your loss. Prayers for everyone during this difficult time and prayers for healing.

    Laura Fossier
    7 Jun 2019
    10:39pm

    Daddy,
    I already feel such a void in my life without you. I know you are with mom and your so many of your family in Heaven. Just know you are terribly missed down here!
    I love you so much!

    Kathy occhiogrosso
    9 Jun 2019
    4:16pm

    I’m so very sorry to hear the sad news about your dad passing. Keeping you and yours in my thoughts and prayers and hoping good memories help you through the days ahead. Xoxo

    Gil and Ardyce Wiemers
    10 Jun 2019
    2:57pm

    To Wes’s family, We are so sorry to hear of Wes’s death. We lived at Atria for 8 years and had breakfast with Wes many mornings. We remember great discussions and many laughs over the years. His devotion for his family was evident. He was a good man and a good friend. He will be missed.

    Ron Smith
    10 Jun 2019
    7:33pm

    Wes was a dear friend. We had great times together when Marie was alive as well as after. When he guit playing golf and moved away we didn’t talk as much but usually several times a year and had lunch several times st the club. He was a good friend and I will miss him. He always talked about his daughters who he loved very much. RIP my friend.

    Mary Jo Tangeman
    10 Jun 2019
    8:51pm

    Was so sorry to hear of Wes’ passing. I knew him for 4 years while living at Atria and enjoyed getting to know him. He was always upbeat, fun, and always a gentleman.

    Keith and Linda Blue
    12 Jun 2019
    2:16pm

    Linda and I are so sorry for your loss. Wes is one of my few hero’s in my life. He was the image of honesty and integrity and his constant, upbeat attitude had such a positive impact on all that knew him. I do know that when I eventually get to heaven (hopefully) he won’t still be able to say he has a 19 handicap but I am sure he will still win my $2.00 when we play. We loved Wes dearly.

    Bill Courtney
    15 Jun 2019
    1:23pm

    I want to take this opportunity to thank Wes once again for getting me started on the path that led to resident photographer at Atria. He called me up one day in April of 2014 and asked if I would take pictures of new residents for display in the dining room. This soon branched out to photographing events and allowed me to get to know most of the residents here. Thanks, Wes, I’ll always remember you.

    Ed Herider
    20 Jun 2019
    3:07pm

    I was so saddened to hear of Wes’passing.

    I so enjoyed his
    bright spirit and
    his joyful obsession
    with cookies. We
    often joked about it
    at Atria. I will
    miss him greatly. He was a wonderful man and a good friend.

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K. Barker
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"I was amazed how professional the team at Aria Funeral Preston Dallas Texas are. They guided me through the process and my options of their services that they offered for my mother. They are compassionate, caring, calm, good listener, efficient and did an excellent job! Thank you!"
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"If I could give 6 stars I would. Aria made a difficult easier to deal with by basically taking care of everything in an efficient but very empathetic manner. I can speak highly enough of Dusty Martin, who helped us with all of the planning and logistics. He was incredibly understanding and helpful."
Angel M.
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"Nothing prepares you for the grief you go through when losing a child. I called this funeral home at 2:00 am broken and could barely talk. The amount of compassion and empathy they showed me immediately let me know I found the right place to cremate my son. I cannot thank them enough for their professionalism, SINCERE concern, and commitment to making sure my son was honored in the most respectful way. I hope this Funeral home values her as much as my family and I do."
McGee Family
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"Wayne and Staff, thank you for taking care of the arrangements for our mom, Exter McGee and our dad, Philip McGee. You have been great to work with during such a difficult time."
Elledge Family
Elledge Family
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"On behalf of my family, I wanted you to know how much we appreciate your handling of my husband's final arrangements. Wayne Baxter assisted & guided us through the entire process with such care & compassion. Don't know what we would have done without him! Sincerely, Colleen Elledge"
The Peterson Family
The Peterson FamilyYelp! Review - Northwest Highway 5-Stars
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"I can’t say enough about how helpful and professional Dusty Martin, the funeral director at the Aria Cremation location on NW Highway has been. From my initial call, he was kind and informative. My friend died at home while on hospice and she was picked up in about an hour after receiving the call from the hospice nurse. The person who arrived to pick her up was also very professional/respectful and allowed us to take as much time with her as we wished. When I met with Dusty the next day about arrangements, he explained the process and options available without being pushy or trying to “sell” extras. Throughout the process, he kept me informed and, for example, was careful to be certain I understood the cost of the obituary I wanted and offered some options for reducing that cost if I wished. When I stopped by for another reason and started talking about some of the problems I was having with the pictures and media I hoped to use at a memorial lunch I was planning, he not only listened patiently but offered technology advice and let me use his personal media player. I have had experience arranging cremations for four others using two other local companies, and this experience with Dusty at Aria has been by far the best one I have had."
Paula Barnes
Paula BarnesGoogle Review
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"My Daddy’s service and our family experience at Aria Northwest Highway was truly blessed. Funeral Director Dustin Martin is the kind of person that you would like to see on a more regular basis – but in his industry – you hope to not see him that often. That being said – THANK YOU DUSTIN for your unending kindness, compassion and friendship through the process. Meeting you and discussing Dallas History, Find A Grave and my Dad’s lifelong contributions to the great City of Dallas was simply wonderful! In memory of my dad James A. Dodd, Sr. – I want to personally thank you and let you know that you made everything better in that moment. Your calling to “Be There” is spot on. Aria has a one in a million guy in you! Bling Blinky of TEXAS Shout Out: God Bless You!!"
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