Evelyn Augusta Tessman

Evelyn Augusta Tessman, the daughter of Fred J. and Sophia J. Grulke Wendt, was born in Pottawattamie County, near Walnut, Iowa on June 10, 1912. She entered into rest April 3, 2008 at the Friendship Home in Audubon at the age of 95 years, 9 months, and 23 days.
She was baptized at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA and confirmed at the Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Walnut, IA. She attended schools in Walnut and Exira. She then worked for several families in housekeeping and family care. She was working at the Audubon Hospital as the cook when she met her future husband.
On December 23, 1930, she was united in marriage to A.A. (Arch) Tessman in Cedar Rapids, IA. They farmed in Leroy township for six years and then moved to the family farm in Viola township in 1937 where they raised three children. Arch passed away September 6, 1977. Evelyn continued to live on the farm until 1994 when she moved into Audubon. She moved to the Friendship Home in May of 2006.
Evelyn was a member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Ross until 1967, when she and Arch joined the First United Methodist Church in Audubon. She was a member of the United Methodist Women, Abigail Circle, and past member of numerous committees at church. She was a member of the Get Together Club, the I-Cay Club and the VFW Auxiliary. She spent her winters in Arizona, along with her sister Alma, each year from 1980 through 2003.
Evelyn was always a willing worker at various church gatherings, providing many pans of brownies and dishes of food, including her much requested custard. Her grandchildren were always able to find several kinds of their favorite homemade cookies in her refrigerator and freezer. She was a very thoughtful person, never failing to remember her family and friends with cards and letters for all special occasions. Some say that memory fades with age, but Evelyn continued to amaze her grandchildren with her uncanny recall of the dates and details of events occurring decades earlier. Her family and their activities were her greatest joy.
Preceding her in death, in addition to her husband, were her parents, an infant brother, Marvin, a sister, Winifred Murray and her husband Rod Murray, a brother, Wilbur Wendt and his wife, Lorraine Wendt; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Marie Wendt, Clarence Tessman, Lydia Williamson and her husband, Orvie Williamson, Bill Tessman and his wives Zola Tessman and Myrtle Tessman, Inez and her husband, Ralph Atherton, Morris Connor, Jesse Bishop and twin granddaughters in infancy.
Survivors include her two sons Darold A. Tessman and his wife, Elaine and Duane E. Tessman and his wife, Cleone, both of Audubon and one daughter, Wava J. Bails of Harlan; 8 grandchildren: Shelly Campbell and her husband Steve of Lees Summit, MO; Leanne Wiskus and her husband Craig of Exira; Susan Grossman and her husband Don of Carroll, David Tessman and his wife Darcy of Audubon; Jason Hilsabeck and his wife Traci of Bismarck, ND; Dale Tessman and his wife Michelle of Audubon; Joni Tessman of Waukee and Julie Larsen and her husband Cody of Guthrie Center; 18 great-grandchildren: Jessica and Ben Grossman, Carroll; Amanda, Melissa and Matthew Sunberg, Exira; Derek, Bryce and Tyler Tessman, Audubon; Benjamin, Drew and Owen Campbell, Lees Summit, MO; Kylee, Kate and Daniel Tessman, Audubon; Chelsea and Connor Larsen, Guthrie Center and Jack and Ally Hilsabeck, Bismarck ND; 3 step-great-grandchildren: Nathan, Cody and Adam Wiskus of Exira; two sisters: Alma Tessman of Atlantic; Genevieve Bishop of Merriam, KS; two brothers: Ervin Wendt of San Diego, CA and Everett Wendt and his wife Wynona of Audubon; sister-in-law Edna Koenig of Audubon, several nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and many friends.
Casket bearers will be Dave Tessman, Jason Hilsabeck; Dale Tessman, Steve Campbell, Don Grossman, Cody Larsen, and Craig Wiskus.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Sunday afternoon from 3:00 until 6:00 at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Dwayne Ferguson on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon.