Brenda Elaine (Wessel) Sims

June 14, 1947 — September 24, 2023

Brenda Elaine (Wessel) Sims, 76, of Pana went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, September 24, 2023, in her home. She was born June 14, 1947, in Pana, Ill., daughter of the late Everett and Opal (Halbrook) Wessel of Ramsey, Ill. Brenda married Ronald Sims on June 12, 1966, in the Ramsey United Methodist Church and he survives in Pana, Ill.

Brenda was a graduate of Ramsey High School, Class of 1965 and then graduated from Mr. John’s School of Cosmetology in the fall of 1965. She owned and operated Parkview Beauty Salone from 1966 to 2022. She also cooked for the Pana School District at Jefferson Middle School for 8 years and was the head cook for Mid-America Prepatory School in Herrick, Ill., for 6 years. She also cooked for the annual Ministerial Thanksgiving supper for many years, as well as the Rhodes France Boy Scout Camp for 17 years.

Brenda was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene for 57 years, where she had served as a Sunday School Teacher, Missionary President, Sunday School Superintendent, Church Steward and was coordinator of funeral dinners. Brenda also served as the Sunday school superintendent during the new building project and she, Ron and Linda Evans stained all the trim work for the new building. Her other memberships included Pana Sports Boosters, where she and Ron served as presidents and the Pana Quarterback Club. Brenda enjoyed doing her ladies hair for 55 years. She also enjoyed collecting cookbooks, going to her grandchildren’s sporting events and the annual trip to Branson, Mo. Most recently Brenda and Ron were chosen as the 2023 Pana Labor Day Parade Grand Marshalls.

In addition to her husband, Brenda is survived by her children: T. Scott Sims, Pana, Ill.; Travis (Jodi) Sims, Tower Hill, Ill.; Tyron (Tiffany) Sims, Tower Hill, Ill.; Tiffany Sims (Jeric Horsthemke), Pana, Ill.; grandchildren: Benjamin Sims, Madison Ashcraft, Grace Sims (Drew), Carsen Sims, Chloe Ashcraft, Samuel Sims (Grace), Payson Ashcraft, Eilee Sims, Hayden Roeder (Victoria), Lincoln Horsthemke; niece, Dr. Kathy Pilger, Greenville, S.C.; and several other nieces, nephews; cousins: Sue Black, Mary Lou Hartman, Tom Halbrook, Kay Miller, Annabelle Umberger, Bev Beyers, Jeri Weineke, Jeanne Kearney and Gary Wessel; special friends: Jerry & Bev Stone, Bob Zueck, Deb Zueck, Kay Duduit, Trish Parkison, Cheryl Waller Croft and lifetime childhood friend, Joyce Baldock Trexler. She was also preceded in death by her granddaughter, Elyn Rose Sims; father and mother-in-law, Marvin and Catherine Sims; sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Bob Pilger and nephew, Brent Pilger.

Funeral services for Brenda will be held on Monday, October 2, 2023, in the First Church of the Nazarene, Pana at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Todd Holman, Pastor Allen Ebbler & Bishop Thomas Suey officiating. Burial will be in Price Cemetery, Oconee. Visitation will be held Sunday, October 1, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the church.

The Sims family would like to extend a special thanks to both Quad County Home Health & Hospice and Susie Castle for their care and support during this time.

Memorials in Brenda’s honor may be made to First Church of the Nazarene or Mid- America Preparatory School and will be accepted by McCracken-Dean Funeral Home who is assisting the family.

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