TAMA- Bess L. Ingles, age 99, of Tama, died Sunday, September 21, 2008 at Carrington Place in Toledo following a short illness. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 10:30 AM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama with Pastor Dewey Grimes officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama. Visitation will be on Tuesday, September 23 from 5 to 8 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Bess was born on January 30, 1909 in Pawnee City, NE, the daughter of Frank and Rena (Pierce) Shefchik.
She graduated from Tama High School and attended Business College in Illinois.
In April of 1940, she was united in marriage to Robert E. Ingles. Bess was City Clerk of Tama for many years and also owned and operated the Gas Light Club in Tama. She was the first and only woman Mayor in Tama, serving from 1979-1981, and also served on the City Council. She was a member of the Oak Hill Cemetery Association, Fraternal Order of Eagles in Tama, and the Tama American Legion Auxiliary. She founded the Business and Professional Women's Club in Tama and was a former County Chair of the Democratic Party. Bess was active in starting the Farmers Market in Tama and was the former Secretary of the Tama Chamber of Commerce. Her hobbies included reading and crocheting. She enjoyed dancing in her younger years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Robert in 1989; three brothers, Chet, Harry, and Harold Shefchik; and a son-in-law, Paul Michael.
Survivors include her daughter, Anne Michael of Tama; two grandsons, Tim (Judy) Rebik of Marshalltown and Joe Rebik of Iowa City; three great-grandchildren, Lucas, Emily and Ben Rebik.
Memorials may be directed to the Oak Hill Cemetery Association.