Imogene "Jean" Bessa was born on Feb. 3, 1928, in Pelican Lake. She was married to Ervin Bessa for 65 years until his death in 2013.
She owned and operated the "Wildwood Shopping Center" in Pelican Lake for over 25 years.
Jean was very skilled at many hand crafts. Her projects included sewing dresses with matching doll dresses for her six-year-old daughter and adorable sweaters with angora animals for each of her children. She was known for her cookie baking and well-tended flower gardens. She loved chocolate, Christmas, barbecued ribs, lemon meringue pie, a Southern Comfort Old Fashioned, sight-seeing, dancing the polka, and keeping her nails painted.
After spending most of her life in Pelican Lake, she moved to Prairie du Sac in 2014 to be near her daughter. She was known as "Imo" at the Pines Assisted Living and became a staff favorite for her "spunky" attitude. She is survived by three children Sharon, Rod (Patty), Daryl (Susan); five grandchildren, Jessica (David), Kelly Ann, Chance, Kyle and Layne, and two step-grandchildren, Teddy and Jake Lundt. She also had four great-grandchildren, Zola, Mack, Fisher and Joe Regele and two step-grandchildren, Gwen and Bryce Lundt. She was preceded in death by her husband and infant son Randy. She died peacefully due to a heart that just got tired on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021.
The Bessa Family would like to express their gratitude for the staff at the Pines for taking such excellent care of "Imo" and for the staff from Agrace Hospice, especially nurse Kevin, who kept her supplied with lemon meringue pies.
Reader Comments
Posted: Saturday, January 23, 2021
Article comment by:
Brian Bloomquist
Our condolences to the Bessa family, May you all treasure the memories only a full life can produce.
The Northwoods River News | Walker Communications, LLC 232 S. Courtney Street, Rhinelander, WI 54501 | Office (715) 365-6397 | Fax (715) 365-6361
Corporate billing office: The Lakeland Times / Lakeland Printing Inc. | P.O. Box 790, Minocqua, WI 54548 | (715) 356-5236 | Fax (715) 358-2121 Members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, Wisconsin Community Papers, Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce, Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce