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On April 12, 2026, Fred William Bessler passed away at the Imperial Manor in Imperial, Nebraska, at the age of 82. He was born May 18, 1943 to Felix and Nannie (Barton) Bessler in Powell, Wyoming. Fred was the youngest of nine children including three sisters and five brothers. As a youngster, his dad taught him to work, fish and he loved to play fastpitch softball; he excelled as a pitcher. The love of fishing, hunting and athletics remained with him throughout his life.
Fred graduated from Powell High School in 1961 competing in football, basketball and track, his favorite being football. He attended Kearney State College playing football until injured. He graduated from Kearney State in 1965, completing his masters degree in 1970. On Dec. 15, 1962 he married Sandra Killham. Four children were born of the union: Brenda, Chris, Jodi and Jane. As a college student, he worked multiple jobs simultaneously to provide for his young family. He was hired to pitch for various fastpitch teams for tournaments throughout Nebraska and Colorado.
Fred's first teaching and coaching job was at Brule, Nebraska, in 1965. They then moved to Madrid, Nebraska, in 1966 for three years — he coached football, volleyball, basketball and track. As the head coach, the 1967 Wheatland team was named the Nebraska 8 Man Football State Champions. In 1969, the family moved to Cozad, Nebraska, where Fred taught Industrial Arts and coached football, basketball and track; Cozad was the Nebraska Class B State Football Champion in 1969.
In 1975, Fred and family moved to Imperial and made Imperial, Nebraska, a permanent home. He taught Physical Education, Strength Training and Diversified Occupations over the years. He was the head football and head track coach for 27 years retiring in 2002; he also coached basketball. His career record as a head football coach is 248-81-1 over 38 years. He was selected a head coach in the West Nebraska All-Star Football Game twice and an assistant once. In 1983 he was an assistant coach in the Shrine Bowl, and in 1995 he was the head coach. Imperial Track teams won 26 consecutive conterence championships during his tenure. Fred was selected to the Nebraska High Sports Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005 as well as receiving multiple other awards.
Fred's family was always his priority. He loved Sandy, his children and grandchildren. He loved following their multiple activities, attending as many as possible or calling and talking about the activities he couldn't attend. He was especially proud of his grandchildren. He shared his love of fishing and hunting with his kids and grandkids at an early age. He enjoyed his fishing trips with friends to the Valentine Refuge lakes and his many "secret" sandhills lakes. He also loved the many pheasant and deer hunts with family and friends around Imperial. A regular at the coffee shop, he would always have a joke to tell or a piece of candy to give kids in church.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Rosemary Kupfer, Grace Sommers and Lucille Heny; his brothers, Raymond Bessler, Felix Bessler, Hugo Bessler, Jim Bessler and John Bessler. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sandra Bessler; children Brenda (Jim) Fuller, Chris (Deb) Bessler, Jodi (Jim) Ptacnik and Jane (Brian) Meyer; grandkids Aaron (Courtney) Fuller, Tyler and Drew Fuller, Cale, Reagan, Logan and Macey Bessler, Britta, Jenna and Ella Deden, Kelen, Hunter and Colt Meyer; great grandchildren Madison and Mackenzie Fuller; sisters in law Judy (Jim) Adams, Ida Bessler and many nieces and nephews.
