Elmer Hessing

Elmer Lee Hessing, son of J. Andrew Hessing and Jennie (Bloem) Hessing, was born on June 19, 1933. He was the fourth of five sons born to Andrew and Jennie. He passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at the Northern Mahaska Specialty Care facility at the age of 90 years old.

Elmer was born and grew up in Mahaska County. He lived with his family on a farm southeast of Pella where he attended Pleasant View School. They later moved to a farm south of Oskaloosa where Elmer attended Elm Grove School and later graduated from the eighth grade at the Six Mile School in 1947.

Elmer’s early working years were spent as a hired farm hand and as a welder at Vermeer Manufacturing. He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and served as a heavy mortar loader from April 1953 to April 1955. He was stationed at Camp Polk, Louisiana and then at Fort Riley, Kansas, separating from the service as a Corporal. After the Army, Elmer worked as an auto mechanic in Des Moines and then Pella before opening his own shop, Hessing Auto Service, where he worked until he sold his business and began delivering mail as a rural route letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service until he retired in 1997.

On April 10, 1958, Elmer was united in marriage with Eileen Joyce Hasselman at Ebenezer Reformed Church in Leighton. To this union three children were born: Dwight, Brenda, and Cheryl.

Elmer had a quiet presence and a helping spirit. He had a strong faith in God and was a long-standing member of Trinity Reformed Church in Pella. Through the years Elmer enjoyed reading, especially about history, he liked camping and visiting tractor and old-car shows, and he especially loved to travel, particularly if it was to the mountains. He felt blessed to be able to live in his home in Pella for over 56 years, the last few with his son. His greatest joy in life was to be with his children and grandchildren and to share in their lives.

Those left to cherish his memory are Elmer’s family:

Dwight Hessing of Pella;

Brenda Hessing of Burlington, Kentucky, and her children:

       Devan and Matthew Colberg

Cheryl Hessing of Burlington, Kentucky

One sister-in-law, Eleanor (Edward) Van Gent of Burnett, Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Eileen; his brothers: Peter, John, Marvin, and Donald Hessing; his sisters-in-law: Betty and Doris Hessing and Norma Hasselman; and his brothers-in-law, Edward Van Gent and Wayne Hasselman.

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