Katherine "Kate" Besinger
February 13, 1921 — August 7, 2016
Katherine “Kate†L. Besinger, 95, of Mishawaka, passed away Sunday morning, August 7, 2016 in Elkhart Hospice House.
Kate was born February 13, 1921 in South Bend, a daughter of the late Matthew and Ruth (Landaw) Mazurkiewicz. She grew up in South Bend moving with her family to Mishawaka in the late 1930’s.
On January 22, 1938, Kate married Frank B. Besinger in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mishawaka.
Kate was employed at Lord’s Dress Shop in Mishawaka and Plymouth and at Miller’s Dress Shop which later became Diana’s Dress Shop in South Bend. She was a long time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mishawaka. Kate belonged to the Business and Professional Women and also the Mishawaka Women’s Society. She volunteered for the American Cancer Society. Kate enjoyed baking, cooking, making crafts, crocheting, reading and vegetable and flower gardening. She was especially fond of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Holidays were a special time for Kate. She always had the coffee pot on and loved visitors.
Kate’s surviving family includes a daughter, Elnora (Gene) Freeman of Mishawaka; a son, Richard (Sharon) Besinger of Mishawaka; grandchildren, Mark (Becky) Freeman, Marty (Jan) Freeman, Monty (Jennifer) Freeman, Bart (Marianne) Besinger, Lynn (Kevin) Goralczyk and David (Katia) Besinger; 16 great grandchildren; and 3 great-great grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Doris Lehman, Matt Mazurkiewicz, Bill Mazurkiewicz, Joan Ransberger, Clara Stickle, Helen Dudeck and John Mazurkiewicz; and many nieces and nephews.
Kate was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; and sisters, Loretta Marshall and Mary Geist.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, August 12, at 9:30 am in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 225 S. Mill Street, Mishawaka with Rev. Christopher Lapp and Rev. Kevin Bauman officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Mishawaka.
Friends may spend time with Kate’s family Thursday, August 11, from 2 - 4 pm and 6 - 8 pm in Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. 3rd Street, Mishawaka, where the Rosary will be prayed at 4 pm.
Memorials are suggested to Center for Hospice Care. Assistance with memorials is available at the funeral home.
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