ROBERT W. BESCH

BUCHDA, BESCH, SCHNEIDER, HYATT, SCHULTZ

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/18/2003 at 17:49:12

Robert W. Besch

Telegraph Herald - Thursday, February 13, 2003

Robert W. Besch, 85, of Bethany Home, formerly of 330 Bradley St., died Monday, Feb. 10, 2003, at Bethany Home.

Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Egelhof, Siegert and Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, and after 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church.

Mr. Besch began work at John Deere Dubuque Works in April 1947, and retired as a chemical engineering supervisor in June 1979.

He was born on Feb. 28, 1917, in La Crosse, Wis., son of William and Clara (Buchda) Besch. He married Janaan M. Schneider on July 3, 1941, at the University of Dubuque Chapel.

After graduating from La Crosse Central High School, he attended La Crosse State Teachers College for one year. He then transferred to the University of Dubuque on a football scholarship.

He resided at 330 Bradley St. for 50 years. He was active in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; University of Dubuque Alumni Association; El Kahir Shrine Temple; Masonic Metropolitan Lodge 49; High Twelve Club; Dubuque Shrine Club; Scottish Rite of Freemasonry; and the M.I. Hummel Club.

He was a loving husband for more than 60 years. His life was his family and his Savior.

Surviving are two sons, Robert W. (Marsha) Besch Jr., of Northfield, Minn., and Ronald B. (Maridell) Besch, of Davenport, Iowa; two granddaughters, Christina M. Hyatt and Gretchen G. Besch, both of Davenport; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Eileen Schultz, of La Crosse; a nephew, Richard Schultz; and a niece, Barbara Schultz.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janaan Besch, on Dec. 27, 2001; and his parents, William and Clara Besch.

Memorials may be given to Bethany Home and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.