Robert J. Pessina

Robert James Pessina, 85, passed away at his home in Newark on Thursday, January 18, 2018, from kidney failure and congestive heart failure as a result of type I diabetes he had most of his life.   He was born on January 16, 1933, the son of William and Audrey Clarice (Gove) Pessina.  He lived his entire life in the Aurora, Montgomery, Newark area, and he was a very smart, talented, and creative person.   He worked as a self-employed construction contractor for many years and loved collecting antiques, working on old cars, playing cards, and going trapshooting.   He was an outstanding trapshooter for most of his life, but in his later years he devoted most of his time to taking care of his farmette and his collection of old cars.  He was a talented musician on the guitar and mandolin, and he loved country and bluegrass music. He also had a strong passion for politics.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, and a brother:  Caryl Pessina Lehnert, Joan Edith Pessina, and brother William Eugene Pessina.  He is survived by  his first wife Rose Weiten Miller and his second wife Sandra Hommes Pessina.  Robert is survived by 10 children:  Robert William (Ruth) Pessina of Hayward, Wisconsin; David Clyde (Vicki) Pessina of Montgomery; James Conrad (Jeannie) Pessina of Sheridan; Kathleen Susan (William) Jeffers of Millbrook; Linda Jean (Richard) Campbell of Norway, IL; Jeffrey Steven (Rowena) Pessina of Sao Pablo City, Philippines; Marcia Ann (David) Kellett of Sandwich; Dale LeRoy (Joyce Hanacek) Pessina of Big Rock; Lisa Marie (John) Knur of Sandwich; and John Michael (Terri) Pessina of Norway.  He is also survived by 26 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren, as well as several cousins, one niece, and several nephews.

Visitation will be held at the Dieterle Memorial Home on Tuesday, January 23,  from 3-8 PM.  The service will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, January 24, at the Dieterle Memorial Home followed by burial at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, where he will be buried next to his mother and special sister Joan in the family gravesite.   

www.dieterlememorialhome.com