Bessie A. Wopat

Bessie A. Wopat, age 94, of Hillsboro, passed away on Wednesday, April 16, 2014, at the Tomah Care Center, Tomah. She was born on August 2, 1919, at the family farm in Greenwood Township, Vernon, County, the daughter of Edward and Mary (Snorek) Hooker. Bessie was united in marriage to Ernest Wopat in November of 1945 and together they lived their entire lives in Hillsboro. She first worked as a nanny for the Hart Family and as an operator for the Hillsboro Telephone Company before becoming a cook for the Hillsboro School District for many, many years, until her retirement. Bessie loved to garden and raise flowers.

Survivors include three siblings, Elgin Hooker, Edward Bud (Bonnie) Hooker; and Marie Hooker, all of Hillsboro; numerous nieces and nephews and a special friend, Nathan Prell.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Ernest, on November 2, 1991; three brothers: Billie in infancy, Marvin and Donald; three sisters-in-law: Marie Garner, Agnes Shaker, and Sylvia Kouba; a nephew, Larry Hooker.

Funeral services were on Saturday, April 19, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hillsboro with Reverend Conrad Prell officiating. Burial will be in the Czech National Cemetery, rural Yuba. Family and friends called on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials are requested in her name to the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Lancaster is serving the family.