Arvest senior vice president dies at 58

Stuart Wetzel, a 30-year veteran of the Springfield banking industry, died Oct. 18. He was 58.

Wetzel, who was hired in 2011 by Arvest Bank as senior vice president and commercial lender at its South National Avenue branch, died of a heart attack, according to his obituary posted at Legacy.com.

A 1975 graduate of Glendale High School and 1982 graduate of Missouri State University, Wetzel started his career at Boatmen's National Bank of Springfield and in 1989 joined the newly chartered Citizens National Bank of Springfield to start its consumer loan department. He also worked at OakStar Bank before his move to Arvest.

"Very few bankers are given the opportunity to help start a bank. I remember the first loan originated and the first deposit customer,” Wetzel had said of Citizens National, which was bought in 2010 by Empire Bank, according to his obituary.

Wetzel also was active in the community, volunteering his time to Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, The Victim Center and Ozark Greenways.

A visitation is scheduled 6-8 p.m. today at Klingner-Cope Rivermonte Chapel, 4500 S. Lone Pine Road. His funeral is scheduled 2 p.m. Oct. 24, according to the obituary.

Wetzel is survived by his wife Vicki, daughter Morgan Kate and mother Mildred.