Bessie Zellmer

BESSIE ZELLMER, age 99 of Waterville died on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault.

Born on September 19, 1917 at home in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, she was the daughter of Charles and Irene (Leischer) Peach.  Bessie attended school in rural Le Sueur County and married Alfred Zellmer on September 20, 1937 at St. Peter’s “Bell” Lutheran Church.  She was a homemaker and farmed alongside her husband northwest of Waterville.  They farmed with horses and Bessie also took care of the henhouse full of chickens.  Following retirement, they moved to Waterville and she moved into assisted living in 2011.  Bessie spent many hours in her large garden.  She enjoyed sewing and made many of her own clothes.  She also enjoyed flowers, cooking, baking, card stamping, and spending time with her family and friends.  She was a member of St. Peter’s “Bell” Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid.

She is survived by one daughter, Ruth Ann (Gerald) Gehrke of Morristown; four grandchildren, Brenda (Marlin) Bernau of Faribault, Barbara (Dean) Wegner of Faribault, Robert (Amy) Gehrke of Morristown, and Rebecca (Dennis) VanDenHemel of Waseca; and 11 great grandchildren.  She is also survived by one sister, Jolene Hagel of Faribault and one brother, Donald (Florence) Peach of Waterville.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alfred in 1987; one sister, Dolores Miller; and brothers-in-law, Reinhold Hagel, Andrew Miller, and Leonard Maas. 

Visitation will be held at Dennis Funeral & Cremation Services in Waterville on Friday, September 30, 2016 from 4-7 PM and continue on Saturday, one hour before services at the church.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 11:00 AM at St. Peter’s “Bell” Lutheran Church.  Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Ivy Hill for their tender loving care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church access fund or donor’s choice.

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