Felix J Bessler
March 18, 1931 — December 13, 2011
Felix J Bessler
Felix J. Bessler, Jr.
On December 13, 2011, Felix Bessler passed away at the Spirit Mountain Hospice in Cody, Wyoming. He was born March 18,1931 to Felix and Nannie Bessler and grew up on the family farm in the East Willwood area South of Powell, Wyoming. Older siblings Rosemary, Grace and Raymond, along with younger ones including Lucille, John, Hugo, James and Fred made the small farm house cozy. Felix graduated from Powell High School in 1949 and the University of Wyoming in 1953. He was in the Army and National Guard from 1953 to 1973 as a pilot. He served in Germany for 3 years and later became a presidential helicopter pilot for Presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. His service included two tours of duty flying helicopters and as base commander in Vietnam. Between those Vietnam tours he returned to Wyoming with sons Joe, Donald and Norman in tow, where he met and married Geraldean H. May and absorbed her children Randy, Michael, Shane and Cindy into a combined family. Felix received his master’s degree from the University of Wyoming in 1971 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1973 to build his home on the family farm. He always enjoyed agriculture and reading of current affairs involving politics and wrote articles, letters and even a book or two voicing his opinions. He was an avid baseball enthusiast helping coach youth baseball in Powell, continuing his enjoyment of kids through 21 grandchildren and their children.
He was proud of his highly decorated military career and had colorful stories of his flying adventures. His achievement as a Master Aviator in the Army was one of his proudest accomplishments and he was a member of the VFW, American Legion and Eagles clubs in Powell.
Survivors include his wife Geraldean of Powell, sons Joe (Lavonne) of Cheyenne, WY, Donald (Mary) of Tempe, Arizona and Norman (Erin) of Reno, Nevada and stepchildren Randy (Linda) May of Sandy, UT, Michael (Faith) May of Jackson, WY, Shane (Lori) May of Jackson, WY and Cindy (Kim) Jacobs of Powell along with Paula (Doug) Woscyna of New York. Siblings Rosemary, Grace, Lucille, Hugo and James preceded him in death and surviving brothers Raymond and John reside in Powell and Fred lives in Imperial, Nebraska.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service for Felix will be conducted at the Powell VFW on January 7, 2012 at 1:00 pm.
On December 13, 2011, Felix Bessler passed away at the Spirit Mountain Hospice in Cody, Wyoming. He was born March 18,1931 to Felix and Nannie Bessler and grew up on the family farm in the East Willwood area South of Powell, Wyoming. Older siblings Rosemary, Grace and Raymond, along with younger ones including Lucille, John, Hugo, James and Fred made the small farm house cozy. Felix graduated from Powell High School in 1949 and the University of Wyoming in 1953. He was in the Army and National Guard from 1953 to 1973 as a pilot. He served in Germany for 3 years and later became a presidential helicopter pilot for Presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. His service included two tours of duty flying helicopters and as base commander in Vietnam. Between those Vietnam tours he returned to Wyoming with sons Joe, Donald and Norman in tow, where he met and married Geraldean H. May and absorbed her children Randy, Michael, Shane and Cindy into a combined family. Felix received his master’s degree from the University of Wyoming in 1971 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1973 to build his home on the family farm. He always enjoyed agriculture and reading of current affairs involving politics and wrote articles, letters and even a book or two voicing his opinions. He was an avid baseball enthusiast helping coach youth baseball in Powell, continuing his enjoyment of kids through 21 grandchildren and their children.
He was proud of his highly decorated military career and had colorful stories of his flying adventures. His achievement as a Master Aviator in the Army was one of his proudest accomplishments and he was a member of the VFW, American Legion and Eagles clubs in Powell.
Survivors include his wife Geraldean of Powell, sons Joe (Lavonne) of Cheyenne, WY, Donald (Mary) of Tempe, Arizona and Norman (Erin) of Reno, Nevada and stepchildren Randy (Linda) May of Sandy, UT, Michael (Faith) May of Jackson, WY, Shane (Lori) May of Jackson, WY and Cindy (Kim) Jacobs of Powell along with Paula (Doug) Woscyna of New York. Siblings Rosemary, Grace, Lucille, Hugo and James preceded him in death and surviving brothers Raymond and John reside in Powell and Fred lives in Imperial, Nebraska.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service for Felix will be conducted at the Powell VFW on January 7, 2012 at 1:00 pm.
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