In Memory of Carol Grace Zabel Hesselgesser |
OMAHA - Carol Grace Zabel Hesselgesser, 72, Omaha, died Friday, Sept. 19, 2003, at the Hospice House in Omaha. She was born Dec. 9, 1930, at the rural farm home of her parents, John and Jessie Zabel. She attended grade school at District 70, rural Western, and graduated from Western High School in 1948. She attended aviation school and then took a job with the phone company. She was married to E. Dean Hesselgesser on May 2, 1959. Three children were born to this union. She quit her job and stayed home to care for the children. She then took a part-time job at the church, where she worked for 21 years. She enjoyed genealogy, travel to Germany and compiled a Zabel Family History Book and organized family reunions. She was active in the First Methodist Church and had been a member of the church choir for 50 years. She also enjoyed computers, square dancing, gardening and traveling. Her grandchildren were a special joy to her.
Survivors: husband, Dean; Children, Sally Vikman and husband Andrew of Wentzville, MO., Rebecca Ruhm and husband David of West Hartford, Conn., Robert Hesselgesser and wife Kim of Cincinnati, Ohio; grandchildren, John and Amber Vikman, Hannah and ZsaZsa Ruhm, Nicholas and Emily Hesselgesser; Brother, Fred Zabel and wife Sarah of Lincoln; sister Jessie Harrington of Western; Sister-in-law, Eloise Lenners of Adams; cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Jessie Zabel; infant sister, Madge Bernice; brother, Roger Zabel; brother-in-law, Charles Harrington; parents-in-law, E. Solon and Blanch Hesselgesser.
Memorial services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, First Methodist Church in Omaha, Pastors Chad Anglemyer and Dana Bainbridge officiating. Burial of cremains: Rose garden at the church. WestLawn-HillChrest Memorial Park Funeral Home and Crematory of Omaha in charge of arrangements.
She spent her life serving church and family.
As mentioned in the above Obituary, Carol was interested in genealogy. She was instrumental in the Zabel genealogy on these pages. Keeping in touch with members of the family updating her own information and sending the updated information to me, (Don Harrington) to add to my data base and publish in book and lately on these web pages. With out her efforts the Zabel Family History book would not exist.