BESSMAN, Zeal 1921-2010

BESSMAN, WILLIG, BYRD

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/22/2013 at 18:03:52

Zeal E. Bessman, age 89, passed away on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at the Southridge Nursing and Rehab in Marshalltown, Iowa. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 27, 2010 at Pursel Davis Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at the Chapel Church in rural Gladbrook. Interment will be at the Chapel Hill Cemetery also in Gladbrook. The Vogel Funeral Homes are entrusted with the arrangements.

Zeal E. Bessman was born on Saturday, August 27, 1921 in Alden, Iowa. He was the son of George and Marie (Willig) Bessman. Zeal was raised in the Buckeye and Alden areas, and then moved to the Wellsburg farm. He was then drafted into the US Air Corp. He served his country during World War II, receiving the WWII Victory medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal with two Bronze Stars, four overseas bars and one service stripe.

He was united in marriage to Martha Byrd on June 29, 1947 in the Gladbrook Chapel Church. They moved to Martha's family farm near Green Mountain in 1950. He was engaged in farming his entire life. Zeal was a member of the Chapel Church in rural Gladbrook where he served as the Sunday School Treasurer for 26 years. He was a Charter member of the Green Mountain Lions Club and received the Lion of the year award. He was also a member of the VFW and American Legion. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, telling jokes, and spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Those left to mourn his passing are his wife of 63 years, Martha; his four children; Arlys (Ron) Boyington, Richard Bessman, Ronald (June) Bessman, Bryon (Pat) Bessman; his six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; two brothers; Brice (Irene) Bessman, Donald (Bonnie) Bessman, three sisters, Minnie Eddy, Eileen Schultz, and Lois (Robert) Moore. He will join in eternal life, one grandson; Brandon Boyington, two sisters, Ruth Roegner, and Delilah Whitmore.