Pella, Iowa - Elmer Lee Hessing, son of J. Andrew Hessing and Jennie (Bloem) Hessing, was born on June 19, 1933. He was the fourth of five sons born to Andrew and Jennie. He passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at the Northern Mahaska Specialty Care facility at the age of 90 years old.

Elmer's early working years were spent as a hired farm hand. He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and served as a heavy mortar loader from April 1953 to April 1955. After the Army, Elmer worked as an auto mechanic in Des Moines and then Pella before opening his own shop, Hessing Auto Service, where he worked until he sold his business and then worked as a rural route carrier for the U.S. Postal Service until he retired in 1997.

On April 10, 1958, Elmer was united in marriage with Eileen Joyce Hasselman. To this union three children were born: Dwight, Brenda, and Cheryl.