MONROE - A funeral Mass for Donald M. Besch, 74, will be held on Saturday at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church in rural Bode, Iowa, with Father Paul Eisele officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. His family will greet friends from 9:30 AM until funeral Mass time at the church on Saturday.
Donald Michael Besch was born June 6, 1942, in Whittemore, Iowa, to Edward and Alice (Reding) Besch. Don graduated from Garrigan High School in 1960 then attended technical school in Des Moines; shortly thereafter he married Norma Becker on September 14, 1963 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The couple lived in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, Iowa before moving to Two Rivers, Wisconsin where they primarily raised their children, before last moving to Monroe, Wisconsin. Don worked in the IT department as a computer programmer for Paragon Electric in Two Rivers, for twenty eight years. One weekend a month he would get back to his roots by driving a milk truck and picking up milk from local dairy farmers. When he relocated to Monroe, he worked for Duluth Trading until his retirement in 2012.
Don enjoyed traveling with his wife and grandchildren, spending time overseas in Germany and Switzerland, as well as extensively throughout the United States. He liked to spend time outdoors working on the yard, taking the family camping, and even canoeing in the Boundary Waters of Canada. Don was an avid Green Bay Packers fan and enjoyed keeping up with the Wisconsin Badgers as well. Don was active in his church at Holy Redeemer Parish; he was very involved in the Men's Group, acting as its president for a couple of years, and he was a member of Renew. He was also involved in the Boy Scouts, as an Assistant Scout Leader. His greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren and passing on the importance of eating ice cream on a daily basis!!
Don passed away at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, peacefully with family and friends at his side, on August 19, 2016 at the age of 74.
Survivors include his son, Steve Besch and wife Susan of Chicago, Illinois, daughter Laurie and husband Richard Caruso of Salt Lake City, Utah, son Brian Besch of Salt Lake City, Utah, son Larry Larsen of Olds, Iowa and son Terry Larsen and wife Kathy of Muscatine, Iowa. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Kayla, Taylor, Brody, Cassie, Nate and Marissa as well as a sister Anna Mae and husband Gene Weir of Ruthven, Iowa.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Norma, his parents, Edward and Alice Besch, sisters Janice Wood and Karen Besch, as well as in-laws Joseph and Christina Becker, Jim and Jean Larsen, and Robert Merrill.
Oakcrest Funeral Services of Algona, Iowa in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com. 515-295-3731.
Donald Michael Besch was born June 6, 1942, in Whittemore, Iowa, to Edward and Alice (Reding) Besch. Don graduated from Garrigan High School in 1960 then attended technical school in Des Moines; shortly thereafter he married Norma Becker on September 14, 1963 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The couple lived in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, Iowa before moving to Two Rivers, Wisconsin where they primarily raised their children, before last moving to Monroe, Wisconsin. Don worked in the IT department as a computer programmer for Paragon Electric in Two Rivers, for twenty eight years. One weekend a month he would get back to his roots by driving a milk truck and picking up milk from local dairy farmers. When he relocated to Monroe, he worked for Duluth Trading until his retirement in 2012.
Don enjoyed traveling with his wife and grandchildren, spending time overseas in Germany and Switzerland, as well as extensively throughout the United States. He liked to spend time outdoors working on the yard, taking the family camping, and even canoeing in the Boundary Waters of Canada. Don was an avid Green Bay Packers fan and enjoyed keeping up with the Wisconsin Badgers as well. Don was active in his church at Holy Redeemer Parish; he was very involved in the Men's Group, acting as its president for a couple of years, and he was a member of Renew. He was also involved in the Boy Scouts, as an Assistant Scout Leader. His greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren and passing on the importance of eating ice cream on a daily basis!!
Don passed away at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, peacefully with family and friends at his side, on August 19, 2016 at the age of 74.
Survivors include his son, Steve Besch and wife Susan of Chicago, Illinois, daughter Laurie and husband Richard Caruso of Salt Lake City, Utah, son Brian Besch of Salt Lake City, Utah, son Larry Larsen of Olds, Iowa and son Terry Larsen and wife Kathy of Muscatine, Iowa. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Kayla, Taylor, Brody, Cassie, Nate and Marissa as well as a sister Anna Mae and husband Gene Weir of Ruthven, Iowa.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Norma, his parents, Edward and Alice Besch, sisters Janice Wood and Karen Besch, as well as in-laws Joseph and Christina Becker, Jim and Jean Larsen, and Robert Merrill.
Oakcrest Funeral Services of Algona, Iowa in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com. 515-295-3731.