Bernard H Hesemann

Memorial Services for Bernard H. Hesemann will be conducted from the Mitchell Funeral Home in Orleans, Nebraska on Monday, September 12, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Michael David officiating. Private family inurnment will be held at a later date in the Aurora Cemetery at Aurora, Nebraska with military honors provided by the U.S. Army National Guard Military Honors Team.

Bernard Henry Hesemann, 97 years of age, of Orleans, passed away on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at the Veterans Hospital in Grand Island, Nebraska. Bernard was born on July 9, 1914 at the family's rural home west of Hamburg, Iowa, the second of four children born to William B. and Elizabeth M. (Wellensiek) Hesemann. He was christened at the Evangelical Church at Hamburg and received his primary education at the nearby Belcher School. In 1928, the family moved to a farm west of Nebraska City, Nebraska, where he graduated from the Nebraska City High School with the class of 1930.

He attended confirmation classes at the Bethel Evangelical Church and was confirmed by Reverend George Duenisng in 1930.

Bernard was an extremely talented man. He credited his talented to the two Kregels brothers of Nebraska City. He learned many construction techniques as well as welding. He and an associate later formed the Mid-West Painting Service, where they painted many highway bridges and overpasses to the State and Federal specifications. At this time, he also started a welding business, working on Transport Tankers on the U.S. Highway 81 Petroleum Route, which ran from Kansas to Nebraska, up to the Dakotas.

With World War II in preparation, Bernard took his portable welder and worked at the Martin Bomber Plant in Omaha, Nebraska and the Consolidated Plant at Ft. Worth, Texas. He briefly worked building Basic Magnesium, at Las Vegas, Nevada and at the Douglas Plant in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In September 1942, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he was mostly stationed with the Eighth Air Force based in England. While stationed near Oxford with the Seventh Photo Group, he flew high altitude reconnaissance photo missions.

Returning from World War II, Bernard worked as a traveling harvester and later as an over-the-road truck driver. In 1947, Bernard went to Orleans, with his trusty portable welder, working on frozen water lines and other odd jobs on the farm or job sites. He became a member of the Fire Department and was Fire Chief for many years. He was very critical of the Fire Equipment and fabricated units for various Departments with low centers of gravity and adequate baffling, making them safe and maneuverable.

He was active in local, state and national trade organizations as well as the Chamber of Commerce and served as Mayor of Orleans.

Three flag poles stand as a tribute to his ability and patriotism at the Orleans School, the Harlan County Museum in Orleans and at the park near the Orleans Swimming Pool.

On May 16, 1962, he was united in marriage to Martha Marie Mersch of Aurora, Nebraska. After almost 15 years of a very happy married life with Martha, she was called to a better home and passed away on February 4, 1977. Many lonely years followed until February 22, 1991 when he married Lillian (Phipps) Bovee, a lovely widow with the same character and values he had cherished with Martha.

He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Martha (Mersch) Hesemann, a brother, Edwin, and a sister, Louise.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife, Lillian Hesemann of Omaha; five step-children: Dan Bovee of Anchorage, Alaska, Steve Bovee of Brighton, Colorado, James Bovee of Sutton, Nebraska, daughter, Suella Maudlin of Omaha, and Melody Mays of Omaha; 10 step-grandchildren; 6 step-great-grandchildren; sister, Margaret Williamson of Cape Corral, Florida; and many other relatives, friends, customers, trade associates, and members of the 381st Service Squadron.

There will be no visitation.
A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Mitchell Funeral Home in Orleans is in charge of the arrangements.