Obituary

Okie Pak: Loving Wife, Mother, Entrepreneur, and Cancer Warrior.

Okie was 68 when she comfortably went Home on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at her residence in West Des Moines after battling an aggressive form of Leukemia for five excruciating months. She was born on December 17, 1956, in Uijeongbu, South Korea to Kun-tak and I-sun Pak.

Although mischievous, Okie was charitable with friends in her childhood village. She out of nine children was the only one that attended a Christian school in South Korea. On February 26, 2009, Okie proudly obtained her biblical diploma from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. She then finished her spiritual duties in 2025 as a deaconess of Church Beyond Borders.

Okie's formidable years took shape as an entrepreneur defying most odds. Her first business was Chu Hair Styling in 1985 with the first salon across from Lincoln High School, then in Southridge Mall and Valley West Mall. In 1994 as Des Moines first day spa, she opened Chu Hair Salon & Day Spa in Valley West Mall. She concluded her entrepreneurship with Okie Clip Day Spa in 2007 across from Jordan Creek Town Center.

The celebration of Okie's journey will be held at Iles Dunn's Chapel in Des Moines on November 7, 2025. Visitation will commence from noon to 2:00pm, ceremony at 2:00pm, then concluding with a short reception.

Okie was preceded by her mother, I-sun Pak; father, Kun-tak Pak; and nephew, Justin Park. She is survived by her husband Dean Wehrle; children, Tony (Sarah) Song and Jessica (Jason) Pak; grandchildren, Tony Song II, Savannah Song, Ian Pak, and Emma Pak; and siblings, Sun-ok (John) Kramer, Myung-ok Pak (Han-yong Choi), Ssang (Doug) Gebelein, Hunni (Dr. Dan) Park, Chong-suk (Dave) Schwartz, So-yong Newman (Aaron Hamrock), Chang-yon Pak, and Chi-hi (Mike) Czipar.

Okie will forever be remembered by her loved ones and people she shared her time with. May she remain comfortable for all eternity...

Online condolences are welcomed at ilescares.com.


ARRANGEMENTS BY ILES DUNN'S CHAPEL

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