Tessmer, Dean Franklin --- 1916-1999

PLEGGENKUHLE, TESSMER, SCHULDT, SCHLATTER, KIST, REISER, COINER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 6/29/2014 at 10:55:52

Decorah, Iowa newspaper, Public Opinion

Dean Tessmer

Dean Tessmer, 83, of Clermont, died Sunday, Sept. 19, 1999, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn., following a lengthy illness.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Sept. 23, at 2 p.m., at the West Clermont Lutheran Church in Clermont, with the Rev. David Nelson officiating.

Janet Helgerson was the organist. Heidi Schott was the vocalist. Selections included "In the Garden" and "Just a Closer Walk with Thee". The congregation sang "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands".

Casket bearers were David Schlatter, Scott Schlatter, Michael Helgerson, Robert Olson, Kevin Winter and Kurt Treloar.

Honorary bearers were Alpha American Legion members. The Flower Committee included Eva Ott and Ruth Priebe.

Burial was at the Alpha Cemetery in Alpha, with military rites by the Ott-Steadman American Legion Post No. 623.

The Becker-Milnes Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Dean Franklin Tessmer was born in Alpha May 27, 1916, the son of Walter and Helene (Pleggenkuhle) Tessmer. He was baptized July 16, 1916, and confirmed Aug. 25, 1929, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Richfield.

He was a 1935 graduate of Alpha High School. He later attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

Dean served in the United States Army as a First Lieutenant in the European Theater in World War II.

On May 12, 1941, he was united in marriage with Marie G. Schuldt at St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner. Dean worked as a farmer, a meat inspector with the United States Department of Agriculture, and a teacher.

He was a member of West Clermont Lutheran Church and the Alpha American Legion.

Survivors include his wife, Marie of Clermont; one daughter, Sally (Russell) Schlatter of Arlington Heights, Ill.; 3 sons, Walter (Jeanne) Tessmer of Elgin, Michael (Gloria) Tessmer of Onalaska, Wis., and Jay (Lisa) Tessmer of Cresco; 11 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, Alvin (Nettie) Tessmer of Fredericksburg, and Everett (Bernice) Tessmer of Tripoli; and 2 sisters, Labenius Kist of Oregon and Della Reiser of Fredericksburg.

Dean was preceded in death by one daughter, Dr. Susan Tessmer Coiner; his parents; and 2 brothers, Woodrow and Archie.