Roy Bernard Wells

Roy Bernard Wells, 90, of Houston, Texas, passed away on Friday, January 5, 2018, at Brookdale Willowbrook Place in Houston, Texas. A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, October 5th, 2018, at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Fort Dodge, Iowa, with a visitation beginning at 1:00 PM at Laufersweiler Funeral Home. Roy's ashes will be buried in the Elkhorn Cemetery- south west of Fort Dodge - with Military Rites conducted by the V.F.W. Post 1856 and the U.S. Army Honor Guard - although, by rights his ashes should be spread around the oceans of the world that he loved to sail. Roy B. Wells was born June 30, 1927 in rural Webster County near Fort Dodge, Iowa. Upon turning 18, Roy ventured to New York City and joined the United States Coast Guard. After a short time, he enlisted into the Merchant Marines and became a ship's engineer apprentice. After years of work and study, he became a Chief Engineer and oversaw the steam engines and diesel engines in many ships bound throughout the world. Roy left the Merchant Marines and joined the Army in 1954 and served two years as a Marine Engineer. Upon leaving the Army, Roy moved back to Davenport, Iowa where he worked as a long-haul semi-truck driver. After a few years he reenlisted in the Merchant Marines and continued another extended career of caring for the engines aboard ships bound for every country in the world except Antarctica. He also served several tours of duty in Viet Nam and Guantanamo Bay overseeing the engines that purified the water supply on the military bases. Roy retired from active duty in 1992. While he lived in southern Missouri for a short time after his second retirement, he lived the majority of his life in the Houston area where he frequently boarded the ships for his many adventures at sea. Roy was proceeded in death by his parents, Everet M. Wells and Agnes Jondle Holenda Wells, his siblings, Vincent Holenda, Martha Holenda McLuckie, Milo Holenda, Adolf Holenda, Inez Wells, and Alice Wells. Roy was survived by his brother Charles Holenda of California (who passed away in January 2018), nieces and nephews Deb Holenda Gwin, Forrest Holenda, Greg Holenda (who passed away on August 1, 2018), and Eric Holenda of California. Carroll McLuckie (Eileen) of Iowa and some cousins throughout the United States.