Mary Jane Bess

Mary Jane Bess, 89 of La Crosse, WI passed away on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at Bluffview Memory Care in Holmen, WI.

She was born in rural La Crosse County to Frank and Carrie (Exley) Moore.  She married her soul mate, Ralph A. Bess on May 16, 1962 in Byron, Minnesota.

She worked at Henninger’s Restaurant in downtown La Crosse for ten years, then worked at the Rubber Mills in La Crosse, WI for twenty five years until her retirement.

Mary Jane enjoyed spending time with her beloved family.  She especially loved cooking Holiday meals and Sunday dinners for her family and friends. She looked forward to every opportunity her and Ralph got to spend time at the cabin with family, enjoying the outdoors and playing card games. She also enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, Katrina, Jake, Jessie and Marisah and going to their events.

Mary Jane will always hold a special place in everyone’s heart that knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph and eight siblings. She is survived by one son, Don (Sandra) Vanderhoff and three daughters, Peg Bemis, Helen (Courtney) Kotlarz, Cheryl (Terry) Miller. Five grandchildren, Katrina (Ben) Wood, Jake (Katie) Bemis, Jessica (Drew) Baldwin, Marisah Miller and her fiance Trevor McDonald and Jonas Weisenberger. Three Great-grandchildren, Jace Bemis, Jaden Bemis and Olivia Baldwin.

The family would like to express a special thank you to the Gundersen Hospice staff and the staff at Bluffview Memory Care.

Funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services La Crosse chapel; 200 West Ave. So. Pastor Scott Skogen will officiate. Burial will take place in Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse.  Friends may call on the family at the funeral home on Tuesday from noon until the time of services.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be donated in Mary Jane’s memory.