Wetsell was born in Moto’otua in Apia to a German-Samoan father and a Tongan-English mother.
[1] After failing to establish a resort at Lake Lanoto'o, in 1973 he founded Apia Concrete Products.
[4] Wetzell was granted the chiefly title of Tupua by his village for his philanthropic works.
[2] In 2013 he was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, with Gold Rays and Neck Ribbon, for his "significant contribution to the promotion of mutual understanding, and friendly relations between Japan and Samoa".
[5] The Tupua Fred Wetzell Championship Cup for the Vailima Marist rugby sevens tournament is named in his honour.