Emery Walter Bessler

Emery Walter Bessler, 100 years of age, of Plymouth passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at the Good Samaritan Society in Beatrice. He was born on December 2, 1925 near Jansen to Walter and Bertha (Reithmiller) Bessler. Emery was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Evangelical and Reformed Church at Jansen. He attended school at District #4 and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1944. Emery worked for a local farmer under a farm deferment from the military. On March 6, 1945, he volunteered for the United States Army. After basic training, he was on a troop ship in Tokyo Bay headed for the invasion of Japan when the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan resulting in Japan’s unconditional surrender. Emery was then stationed on the island of Leyte, Philippines and Guam when he was transferred to the United States Air Force. Seargent Bessler was honorably discharged on November 9, 1946. Emery returned to Nebraska where he worked in the office at Store Kraft in Beatrice until he started farming the Bruning Air Base at Ohiowa with his brother, Virgil.

Emery married Lois Maschmeier on November 26, 1950 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Beatrice. Three children were born to this union. After the death of his father in 1954, the family moved to the home farm at Jansen where they lived and farmed for 40 years until retiring and moving to Plymouth. He was a member of the Schopp-Ewing-Nispel Post #243 American Legion Post of Plymouth, Peace United Methodist Church where he served on the church council for many years, Board of Directors for Jansen Coop Elevator, District #4 School Board, ASC Committee, Natural Resource Board and the Tri County School Location Committee. Emery enjoyed his children’s and grandchildren’s activities, woodworking, camping, fishing, gardening, traveling with friends with his camper and especially wintering in Texas and Arizona.

Emery is survived by his wife, Lois; son, Michael and wife Ramona of Jansen; daughters, Lorie Drake of DeWitt and significant other Lorenz Hamm, Bonnie Bessler and wife Jeanne Kalkwarf of Lincoln; grandchildren, Jeremy Drake and husband Tyler Parish; Heidi Parker and significant other Alan Orf, Beth Zenger and husband Mark, Michelle Gonderinger and husband Ryan, Adam Bessler and wife Brittany; great grandchildren, Houston Parker, Austin Gonderinger, Logan Gonderinger, Kinsley Bessler, sister-in-law, Adele Schroll of Beatrice; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, John Drake; grandson-in-law, Jeff Parker; brothers, Virgil Bessler and wife Maxine, Merlyn Bessler and wife Ione; sisters-in-law, Leona Hemphill and husband Clark, Esther Schimenti and husband John, Shirley Maschmeier; and brothers-in-law, Carl Maschmeier and Robert Schroll.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at Peace United Methodist Church in Plymouth with Pastor Lori Miller officiating. Interment with military rites by the Nebraska Army National Guard Honor Guard and Schopp-Ewing-Nispel Post #243 of the American Legion will follow in the Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice. Visitation will be held Harman-Wright Mortuary in Plymouth on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 from 1 to 8 PM with family greeting friends from 5:30 to 7 PM. Memorials are suggested to the Peace United Methodist Church or Plymouth Rural Fire District in care of the mortuary. Harman-Wright Mortuary in Plymouth in charge of arrangements.

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