Phyllis J. Hess

Phyllis J. Hess, 89 of Jefferson, passed away on Friday, August 30, 2019 at Watertown Regional Medical Center.

Phyllis was born on April 2, 1930, the daughter of William and Hulda (Borchardt) Beilke.  She grew up in the Jefferson area, graduated from Jefferson High School, and attended Martin Luther College of New Ulm, MN and UW-Whitewater.  On May 28, 1950, she married LeRoy Hess and the couple had 2 children and later purchased a farm on Popp Road.  The couple loved the farm, and Phyllis lived there until LeRoy’s death in 2013. Phyllis had many jobs including telephone operator at Wisconsin Bell in Jefferson, teacher at St Peter’s Lutheran School in Helenville, proofreader at Johnson Hill Press in Fort Atkinson, librarian at East Elementary School in Jefferson, office clerk at Jefferson County Veterans Services, Deputy Register of Deeds and was elected Register of Deeds from 1987-1993.  Phyllis was a wonderful mother and grandmother. Her family remembers their time together on the farm – gardening and working in the lane, and how well she kept her house.  She made German food with skill, was a great listener, and had an ability to make the people in her life feel special.  Phyllis did have an opinion on most issues and didn’t mind sharing it.  She was always willing to help right an injustice.  She loved her Lord and church and had a deep appreciation for sacred music.  Her memory is precious to her family and friends and she will be missed.

Phyllis is survived by: her children Lorri (Gary) Hans of Jefferson and Daniel (Kim) Hess of Beloit; grandchildren Ashley (Nate) Kuhl, Jonathan (fiancé Sara) Klein, Emma Hans, Abigail Puentes, Paul (Rebecca) Hans, and Cindy (Troy) Johnson; great-grandchildren Brenden, Isabelle, Sophia, Silas, Brock, and a baby girl on the way.  She is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers William, Orville, Norman, Elroy, Douglas, and John, sisters Elizabeth McDaniel, Delores “Bonnie” Maurer, Elfrieda Hill, and Winnifred in infancy.

The family would like to thank the ER and ICU Departments of the Watertown Regional Medical Center for their care and also to express a sincere thank you to the staff of Heritage Homes of Watertown for the loving care provided, both physically and spiritually.

Memorials may be made to St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church of Jefferson.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, September 6, 2019 at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church of Jefferson with Rev. Matt Krenke presiding.  Visitation will be on Friday from 10:00AM until the time of service at the church.  She will be buried at Union Cemetery following the funeral.

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