Tom A. Bessen, 98, of McLeansboro, died at 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 1998 at his residence in McLeansboro. he retired from Stotz Quarry in Prairie du Rocher before moving to McLeansboro.
He was born on March 23, 1900, in Prairie du Rocher, a son of Henry and Emilie (Coleno) Bessen. On December 13, 1941, he married Jane M. (Smith) Bessen in St. Charles, Missouri, and she died in 1996. He was the oldest member of McLeansboro First Baptist Church and a veteran of World War II.
The funeral was at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 1998, at Harre Funeral Home in McLeansboro. The Rev. John Denham officiated. Burial was in the Veteran Section of Oddfellows Cemetery in McLeansboro. Full military rites were provided by Americal Legion Post #106.
Mr. Bessen is survived by three sisters, Florence Hoey of Sarasota, Florida, Anna Cannon of Decatur, and Grace Doerr of Prairie du Rocher.
Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and five sisters.