Brian Wessel of Lino Lakes, Minnesota died on February 21, 2025 at the age of 88 in Green Valley, Arizona in the company of his wife and sons. He was predeceased by his parents and his eldest son Kemper. Born to Ruth and Hans Wessel in Minneapolis, Brian graduated from Breck School and the University of Minnesota College of Architecture. His grandfather and father, who immigrated from Sweden, began four generations of architects.

He is survived by his wife Andrea Mullenbach Wessel, sisters Nancy (Lou Demars), Carla (Joe Houle), and the children from his first marriage: his sons Kerrik (Heather Sexton), Kipp (Nicole Shackelford) and grandchildren Severin and Stella. He's also survived by stepchildren Kristen Ballou (Marcus), Dr. Karen Paige (Mark), Amy McKenzie (Sean), and David Fullerton (Denise).

Brian's professional emphasis was in marketing the building process. He was a founding fellow of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. He worked with Ellerbe Architects and Engineers, Mortenson Construction Company and ultimately the Wessel Company, Real Estate and Development.

Drawn in his beautiful hand, Brian designed and built numerous imaginative dwellings with arcing views of sky and stars. He was a devoted friend, husband and brother, appreciated the discipline of design, the freedom of creativity and the solace of wilderness, sailed lakes Clear, White Bear and Superior, canoed and camped the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area where he once politely (but unsuccessfully) used a fishing rod canister to deter a determined black bear from a borrowed scrambled egg breakfast, coached peewee hockey on frozen Shoreview rinks, identified woods, desert and meadow-sifting birds and butterflies, loved elephants and sunrises, often wore a trademark towel draped around his neck, embraced moments of silence and observing the horizon, understood the importance of listening and wondering and taking notes, was an unwavering problem-solver, builder and believer in the possible, became an adoptive father to sandhill cranes, launched ace serves as a nationally-ranked handball player well into his eighties and was the most caring, understanding, playful and loving father to his sons who revere and celebrate him every minute, every day.