“devout, complicated, enduring”: vincent “vince” hugh mousel passes away unexpectedly

written by sarina e. guerra, freelance journalist
formatted by justin orsino

(based on an interview with sharon joann burns)

Vincent “Vince” Hugh Mousel of El Centro, CA, aged 63, passed away on January 8, 2026 after being hit by a car while walking at night at around 9:30 pm on January 3, 2026. He was life flighted to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, CA where he unfortunately succumbed to critical injuries five days later.

Born on January 13, 1962 to parents Frank Mousel (1907 – 2004) and Virginia Joan Mousel (1922 – 2013) of Eau Claire, WI, Vince was the second youngest of seven children.

He remained true to his Catholic upbringing, proudly carrying on the religious tradition and truly relishing in his devotion to Mary, Mother of God. Vince regarded his faith and the spiritual aspects of life with utmost importance as his Great Depression Era parents instilled in him the values of…

Perseverance,
Frugality &
Hard work.

“They valued family above all else,” said surviving daughter, Sharon Joann Burns.

With generational struggle came great strength, however, not without trial and tribulation. Vince’s lifelong battle with mental health led him down a dark path at a young age due to a dangerous combination of unfortunate circumstances and bad company. He always attributed his survival to an intervention by Mother Mary, which ultimately led him to fervently honoring her and her son Jesus for the rest of his life. 

His family would like their beloved to be remembered as a man who wasn’t defined by that which sought to drag him down. 

Vincent Hugh Mousel was a son, father, and grandfather who is dearly remembered by friends and family with honesty, compassion, and love. He is described by his daughter Sharon as…

“Devout,
Complicated &
Enduring”

… and someone whose soul was marked by a profound heaviness and divine light in equal measure.

As a boy, Vince adored anything having to do with trains and would request his birthday cake be molded in such a way as to honor this—to which his mother would oblige for as long as she was physically able. The edible masterpiece consisted of several chocolate cakes carefully decorated to resemble square train cars, an annual tradition that is remembered fondly by family. 

As a young man, Vincent served four years as a Marine in the United States Military, earning respect from his cohort as well as from leadership. While there, he learned the benefits of structure, routine, and uniformity, impressing commanders with his firearm skills along the way. During his term, he earned two pins signifying his rank as “pistol expert” and “rifle marksman”.

Although never married, Vince did father a beautiful child with surviving ex-partner Lorene Smith of Seymour, IN. Their daughter Sharon Joann Mousel was born on July 24, 1995 in El Centro California, graduated from Vincent Memorial High School, and grew up to become a wife, mother, journalist, and overall lovely human being.

Vincent also played a large role in the lives of his non-biological children (his daughter’s half-brothers), John and Joseph Stidam of Seymour, IN. He grew close to his in-laws, including his sister’s husband, Michael Collier of Las Cruces, NM, and his brother’s wife, Nancy Mousel of Irvine, CA.

Before and after Sharon’s birth, Vince took great pride in his role as a provider and truck driver who worked diligently for years until a serious head injury forced him into early retirement. In response, he shifted his focus to staying physically active and engaged in the world around him. He was known for casually walking into town for fresh air, a change of scenery, and to visit with neighborhood regulars before hitching a ride back home. As a father, he enjoyed nothing more than the monthly ritual of attending Mass with his daughter Sharon and catching lunch together afterwards.

A far cry from his younger years, Vince had many friends strongly rooted in faith throughout adulthood. He was known as someone intensely devoted to prayer, reciting the Rosary regularly as well as chaplets and novenas. The passionate devotee frequently wrote personal prayers of his own, and found community through his parish, briefly serving with the Legion of Mary—a role that his daughter said “reflected his desire to grow spiritually and serve others” via the power of prayer. 

When it came to the broader community, Vince was a man of quiet contribution concerned primarily with personal faith, committed routine & moments of shared worship. The arc of his life can be described as a gradual turning inward towards prayer and deep reflection, and encompassed a series of experiences that led him to the conclusion that…

“Heaven
is where
it’s At.”

In constant pursuit of salvation, he spent many moments in prayer that his daughter and grandson live a life blessed and protected by the eternal love of God.

Those who knew Vincent best knew that, although humble, he was unabashedly skilled at being able to accurately navigate and understand complex maps and long-distance travel routes, often performing feats of fine-tuned spatial awareness while simultaneously showcasing his legendary sense of direction—all thanks to his trucking past. 

The late Vincent Hugh Mousel was a vital part of the unseen inner workings of society, fulfilling roles essential to the movement of goods and products, whose life reflected the daily rhythm of consistency in work as much as faith. 

When asked, Mr. Mousel would say his greatest achievement in life was getting to be Sharon’s dad. In a written interview about the passing of her father, she said that he would want his final message to the community to be that…

“this Life is
Not our Home”.

“We are only passing through,” she added. “People should realize [this] and put their lives in God’s hands.” 

He is preceded in death by his brothers, Baby Joseph Raymond Mousel (November 19, 1958 – November 23, 1958) and John Mousel (1955 – 2025), and his sister Ann Marie Collier-Mousel (1950 – 2025).

Vince is survived by his sister, Sharon Clare Mousel-Sparks (Fred Sparks) of Imperial, CA, brothers Steven James Mousel of El Centro, CA and Timothy Mousel of Houston, TX, his daughter Sharon Joann Burns and grandson Jared Vincent Burns of El Centro, CA.