Wesley M. Hausken

Wesley M. Hausken, 71, of Lockport, passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.

Visitation will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 12 at Stavanger Lutheran Church. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. at the church with Pastors Jennifer Bennet and Luke Harris-Ferree officiating. Burial will be in Stavanger Lutheran Cemetery at a later date. Seals-Campbell Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Wesley was born on June 19, 1955, in Ottawa, IL, to Orville and Mabel Jean (Olson) Hausken. On May 12, 1993, he married Rebecca Ennis Pilotte of Lockport who survives.

Wes was the owner and operator of Quality Printing Service for many years, but his first love was always music. He started his piano career at the age of 5 under the watchful eye of his grandmother and mother – both accomplished teachers and keyboardists. The school band would soon become an important influence in early years. Through the guidance of fine teachers, he developed an early relationship with VanderCook College of Music – attending their band camps in the summer, working as a counselor/teacher at the camps, attending early entry college classes, and eventually graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education.

His love for jazz blossomed during those college years, and he had since appeared with many big bands, small jazz ensembles, as a leader of his own trio, and as a soloist in many venues big and small. Many will remember his time with the rock band Freedom, which performed at weddings and local venues, as well as with the Wes Hausken Trio. His musical heroes and influences ranged from Bach to John Phillip Sousa – from Debussy to Rachmaninoff – from Miles Davis to Bill Evans – from Antonio Carlos Jobim to Oscar Peterson – from Ella Fitzgerald to Frank Zappa. Among many favorites were tunes from The Great American Songbook – classic jazz standards that are the heart of the American jazz story.

Wes enjoyed working with other fine musicians who are dedicated to sharing the love of live music everywhere.

Wes is survived by his wife, Rebecca; his children, Daniel and Sally Hausken; his brother, Philip (Mary Beth) of Oak Park; his nieces and nephews, Peter, Elise, and David; many cousins, including Barbara Ugolini; numerous cousins in Norway, including Johannes Hausken; and a longtime friend, John Kowynia, of Lexington, KY.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Kenneth Hausken.

Pallbearers will be Mike Denny, Chris Hausken, Leslie Hausken-Martin Strum, John Philip Olsen, Tim Marin, and Brad Baker. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ken Paris, John Peter Olsen, John Kowynia, Mike Cunico, Mike Stohr, Pat Ugolini, and Mike Ugolini.

Wes’s final act of kindness was providing the gift of sight with the anatomical gift of eye tissue for the purpose of transplantation, therapy, research, or education in coordination with Eversight. (eversightvision.org)

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. (https://www.vandercook.edu/ways-to-give/)

Seals-Campbell Funeral Home

1009 E. Bluff St., Marseilles, IL 61341

815-795-5151 www.sealscampbell.com