Statler Family Obituaries
Bess, Joda Lee
Joda Lee Bess, proud husband, father and grandfather, and longstanding businessman in Southeast Missouri, died Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, at his home. With his family surrounding him, Joda went peacefully home to be with his heavenly father.
Joda was born Nov. 20, 1927, in Blodgett, Mo. His parents, Mary and Joda William Bess, moved to Poplar Bluff, Mo., in the fall of 1927 to establish a fresh fruit and vegetable business, Bluff City Produce Co.
He grew up in Poplar Bluff on the corner of Tremont and Mill streets with his brother, Buddy, and sisters, Betty and Dianne.
On a beautiful autumn day Oct. 1, 1960, Joda married Charlotte Arlene Frueh at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Poplar Bluff. Each year on their wedding anniversary Joda would remark that Oct. 1 was the luckiest day of his life.
Joda graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1946. Joda served a two-year stint in the U.S. Army Engineering Division and attended Southeast Missouri State University. Joda's true education occurred in the produce markets of St. Louis and on beer delivery trucks in Southeast Missouri as he worked at Bluff City Beer and Produce Co. with his grandfather, William; father, Joda William; uncle, Herschel; and brother, Buddy.
In 1958, Joda moved to West Plains, Mo., where he owned J & L Distributing. Joda and Charlotte returned to Poplar Bluff in 1966 to work again with family at Bluff City Beer Co. In 1972, Joda and Charlotte moved to Cape Girardeau. Bluff City Beer Co. remains in the Bess family today and is managed by Joda's children, David and Kathy; nephew, Billy Bess; and niece, Margaret Ann Guettermann.
Joda took great pride in being a business owner and the relationships built through the beer business were a big part of his life. Joda believed that a glass of cold beer was one of life's simple pleasures and that a day spent on a delivery truck was an honest day's work of which a man could be proud.
Joda was a past member of Miller Brewing Co.'s Distributor Council, National Beer Wholesalers Association and a past president of Missouri Beer Wholesalers Association. Joda served on the boards of the Cotton Exchange Bank in Kennett, Mo., and Commerce Bank of Cape Girardeau. He held many positions at Christ Episcopal Church and most recently served on the vestry council.
After 50 years in the beer business, Joda retired from Bluff City Beer Co. in 1999. To the amazement of his family, Joda became an involved and vibrant grandfather to Joda Keith and James. No adventure was too big or too small for Grandpa. He read stories to his grandsons and rocked them and chauffeured them and lectured them and fed them and loved them with his whole heart. As his grandsons grew older, Joda even became a soccer enthusiast and a basketball fan. Joda was at his very best with his grandsons, and they will carry Joda's lessons and love for them through time.
Joda is survived by his wife of 49 years, Charlotte Bess; two children, Kathy (Keith) Holloway and David Bess of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Dianne (Tom) Sites of Blackwater, Mo.; and two grandchildren, Joda Keith and James Holloway of Cape Girardeau.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Margaret Smith and Joda William Bess; a brother, Alvin H. "Buddy" Bess; and a sister, Betty Bess.
Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. at the church, with the Rev. Bob Towner officiating.
Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
During his lifetime, Joda supported Christ Episcopal Church, Trinity Lutheran School and Notre Dame Regional High School.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, to consider a donation to any of these wonderful institutions.
Printed in the Tuesday, August 11, 2009 edition of the Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, MO.
©2009 by David Statler of StatlerWeb
Last Updated: November 08, 2010