BESSMAN, George A. 1895-1984

BESSMAN, LETTOW, WILLIG

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/18/2014 at 22:16:55

Last Rites For G. A. Bessman Held Tuesday

Funeral services for George A. Bessman were held on Tuesday, December 11, at 1:30 p.m. at the Second Christian Reformed Church. Pastor Orwin Duistermars officiated.

Music was furnished by the Messengers, Richard Schafer, Lary Riebkes, Melvin Haupt and Arnold Eiten, who were accompanied by Mrs. LuRay Meyer. Miss Monica Doyen was organist.

Flower attendants were Mrs. Leonard Gelder, Mrs. Gary Beving and Mrs. Edward Sietsema.

Casket bearers were grandsons, Charles Eddy, Richard Bessman, Mark Bessman, Joel Schultz, Robert Whitmire, Timothy Roegner, Scott Bessman and Robert Moore. The interment service was held at the Shiloh Cemetery in Wellsburg. Graveside military rites were conducted by the American Legion Post 213 and Amvets Post 91, both of Wellsburg.

Doyen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Bessman passed away Saturday morning, December 8, at the Long Term Care Unit of the Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center due to complications of advanced age.

He had been a resident of the Long Term Care Unit since November 15, 1984. He reached the age of 88 years, 11 months and 18 days.

He was born on December 20, 1895 in Alden, Iowa, the son of Fred and Caroline (Lettow) Bessman and received his education in the country schools in the Popejoy and Alden areas. On November 19, 1919 he was married to Marie Willig at Hubbard. Following their marriage they farmed near Alden and later moved to a farm northeast of Wellsburg. In 1954 they retired and moved to Wellsburg to make their home. They were privileged to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary this past month.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Evangelical Church in Alden. He became a member of the Second Christian Reformed Church of Wellsburg by transfer of membership on April 12, 1981.

George served in the U.S. Army during World War I and was wounded and hospitalized in France. He was a member of the Wellsburg Ashing-Jaspers American Legion Post 213, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Voiture No. 171 of the 40 & 8 organization. He served on the board of directors of the Evangelical Deaconess Hospital (now Marshalltown Area Community Hospital) for 25 years.

Preceding him in death were his parents, four brothers, three sisters and two grandchildren.

Those left to mourn his passing are his wife, Marie; five daughters and three sons, Mrs. Minnie Eddy of Dike, Zeal Bessman of Marshalltown, Mrs. William (Eileen) Schultz of Grundy Center, Brice Bessman of Wellsburg, Mrs. Merle (Delilah) Whitmire of Wellsburg, Mrs. Don (Ruth) Roegner of Hiawatha, Mrs. Robert (Lois) Moore of Marshalltown, and Don Bessman of Waterloo; 31 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Oscar (Edith) Brand of Pamona, California; and many other relatives and friends.

--The Grundy Register/Wellsburg Herald (Grundy Center, Iowa), 13 December 1984, section 2, pg 1