Leah Claire Biessman Day Obituary

Leah Day, age 82 of Hustler entered into eternal life on November 27, 2017 at Meriter Hospital in Madison, following a full and rich life on earth.

Leah was born in the family home in Evansville, WI to Henry and Edna (Talg) Biessman.  When she was two the family moved to Horicon and a couple years later they moved to Edgerton.  She attended Edgerton public schools from Kindergarten to High School graduation in 1953.  She attended Wisconsin State College in Milwaukee and was in the first graduation class of the newly merged University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  After graduation Leah and three friends taught in Appleton.  Leah taught kindergarten at Washington school.  In 1963 she moved to Richfield, Minnesota where she taught kindergarten at Lincoln Hills School.  During her single life she traveled with friends to the eastern states.  She was a member of the Ullr Ski Club and served as secretary and newsletter editor.  With friends in the ski club she skied many western USA and Canadian ski areas.

In 1974 she met Willard (Bill) Day and on September 21, 1974 they were married at Berea Lutheran Church in Richfield.  In 1978 they moved to Red Lodge, Montana and owned and operated the SkyView Motel.  They also bought the A&W root beer stand and converted it to a year-round restaurant, the Chuckwagon.  Leah enjoyed meeting people from many states and countries that were guests at the motel.  Because of financial reverses they started a new life in 1986 and managed the Torrance Travelodge in Torrance, CA.  She missed her family and the change of seasons, but loved the year-round flowers.  When her Aunt Elizabeth died and the Talg home was for sale Bill and Leah bought it.  In 1997 they moved to Hustler which held many happy childhood memories.  Leah loved working in her flower gardens.  She loved decorating for the holidays.  Christmas was her favorite and she had a large collection of Santa Claus figures and decorations for several themed trees.  Sewing and counted cross stitch were other hobbies she enjoyed.  She was known as a cookie cutter collector and enjoyed the friendships made with collectors from the regional and national clubs.  She was interested in family history and in 2008 spent the month of May in Germany with her dear friend, Marilu Peters.  She found the Talg family relatives living in the village from which her great grandparents emigrated.  She also met Biessman relatives and celebrated the 1075th Jubilee of the town of Breitengen.  She loved children and subbed in the Tomah schools for many years.  She enjoyed making cookies with her grandchildren and great grandchildren and earned the name, Grandma Cookie Baker.  She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hustler and later St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Lisbon.

She is survived by her brother Wayne Biessman of Costa Mesa, CA, Stepchildren, Fred (Mary) Day of Minneapolis, MN, Lois (Tom) Richard of Concord, NH, Sister-in-law, Janet Biessman of Edgerton, WI, Nephews, Jeff (Tanya) Biessman of Jackson, IL, Eric (Nicole) Biessman of Middleton, WI, Nieces, Bonnie (Phillip) Deutsch, Pat (Bill) Kennedy.  She is also survived by grand nieces and nephews, Nik and Gretchen Biessman and Jack, Natalie and Lily Biessman, step grandchildren, Corey (Terry) Day, Colleen (Jason) Lane, Denise Richard, step great grandchildren Ella and Lyle Lane and Aiden and Alexis Day.  She leaves behind many special friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Edna, husband Willard, brother Bruce, and sister Lois.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday June 30, 2018 at St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (208 Allen Rd), in New Lisbon WI.  Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation from 10:00 until the time of service.  Inurnment will be in the Hustler Cemetery.  Pastor Matthew Kimmel Presiding.  Online condolences are available at www.harefuneralhome.com.  

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