Obituary of Kenneth Paul Tessman

Kenneth Paul Tessman, age 90, passed away on Friday, March 11, 2016 at Alden Estates in Jefferson, Wisconsin. Kenneth was born on July 29th, 1925 in Delafield, WI to Paul and Florence (Menick) Tessman. He married Margaret E. Royle on December 21, 1945 after returning from WWII. While serving his country in the U.S. Army, he earned many service awards and the purple heart. They resided in Aztalan and later moved to Fort Atkinson. Ken was a member of the United Methodist Church in Fort Atkinson where he taught Sunday school and served as a Boy Scout Troop Master. He was a Grand Master at the Waupun Wi Lodge #48 Masonic Temple. In 1949 Ken and his father started Tessman Block Company in Jefferson. He continued to grow the business until 1975 when he sold the business and moved to Waupun, taking the position of Vice President of Waupun Concrete, a subsidiary of Bend Industries until his retirement in 1992. Ken enjoyed golfing as a member at Koshkonong Mounds CC and later at Fox Lake CC. He also enjoyed woodworking, bird watching and fishing. He was an avid deer hunter and went skydiving on his 80th birthday. In 2010 he enjoyed a Stars and Stripes Honor Flight to Washington D.C. Ken is survived by daughters: Jackie (Jerry) Gehrke of Jefferson; Kathy (Doug) Brandenburg of Fort Atkinson; and Pam (Judy Mayer) Tessman of Stoughton; sons: Doug (Amy) of Evansville and Dennis (Deanna) of Fort Atkinson; 14 grandchildren: Mike (Mary) Yahn, Brian Yahn (Darlene Murphy), Cindy Yahn, Amy (Jeff) Heine, Lisa Tessman, Kenneth, Yvonne and Monica Tessman, Luke (Cassie) Tessman, Amber (Brent) McGee, Carla (Eric Habenschild), Jessi Drager, and Patrick and Craig Stallsmith; 6 step-grandchildren: Don (Zoila) Yahn, David (Lori) Yahn, Daryl (Cathy) Yahn, Jeff (Tammy) Gehrke, Jim (Jessi) Gehrke, and Brittany Brandenburg; 17 great grandchildren: Lisa Wollin, Tracy (Michael) Arevelo, Gyllian and Gretta Yahn, their mother Diedra, Kaela (John) Emerson, Emily Maas, Travis Lee, Wyatt Heine, Jonathan (Shelby) Hommen, Alexis Hommen, Zac Sterwald, Ashton Tessman, Braden and Tatum Drager, Leelou McGee, James and Quinn Habenschild; 8 step-great grandchildren: Donald Yahn, Eric and Stephanie Yahn, Valerie Yahn, Velicia (Bill) Dunston, Justin Gehrke, Jayden and Jenna Gehrke; 8 great-great grandchildren: Kaitlin Emerson, Faith Maas, John Emerson, Donald Genz and Owen Schultz, Adeline and Olivia Yahn, and Elijah Dunston; sisters: Charlotte Frankiewicz, Shirley Landowski and Betty Shannon as well as special friends, Jackie, Kendal and Connor Clark. Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Margaret, sisters, JoAnn Latsch and Grace Jahn; brother, Duane; son-in-Law, Donald Yahn; and great grandson, Levi Heine. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 11:30am at the Nitardy Funeral Home Chapel, Fort Atkinson, with Pastor Russell Frees Jr. officiating. Visitation will be from 10am until the time of services. Inurnment will follow the service at the Lakeview Cemetery, Fort Atkinson. Ken's family would like to extend a thank you to Above & Beyond caretakers, Kim, Brenda, Ginny, and many others who cared for their dad for the past 6 1/2 years. A special thanks to Michelle Wix, who treated him with the love and care of a family member. All memorial gifts will be sent, in Ken's memory, to Above & Beyond Care Solutions LLC.