Obituary of Barbara Lee Wessman

Barbara Lee (Luukkonen) Wessman 69, of rural Tower died at St. Mary’s Hospital on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. A celebration of life will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Virginia on Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation an hour before the service.

Barbara was born on June 17, 1949 to Jalmer and Impie Luukkonen. She grew up in Britt and graduated from the Roosevelt High School in Virginia. On November 16, 1968 she was united in marriage to Dennis Wessman. Barb was a co-owner of Wessman’s Café in Virginia and also worked as a cook and waitress in many restaurants over the years; most recently at Fortune Bay at the Tamarack in Tower and also at Tim Horton’s in Tower. She was the “Pasty Queen” at the K&B Drive-In for many years. Barb took great pride in her work. She loved spending time at the cabin with her family and friends and enjoyed her flowers and birds.

She was preceded in death by her father, Jalmer and her grandson, Michael Wessman II. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Dennis, of Tower, MN, 2 children; Michael (Lisa) Wessman of Cumberland, WI, Michelle (Rich) Skerbitz of Hoyt Lakes, MN, 2 granddaughters, Alicia Wessman and Ashley Wessman, mother Impie Luukkonen of Aitkin, MN; 1 brother Albert Luukkonen of Britt, and sisters Diane Miller of Lawler, MN, Darlene Lossing of Cook, MN , and Cindy Bozicevich of Duluth; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.