Bessie E. Irish, 103, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Tuesday, December 18, 2012, at Morys Haven Nursing Home in Columbus.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, December 21 at 10:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Columbus with Rev. Bill Ritter officiating. Interment will be in the Valley View Cemetery in Genoa, NE. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue on Friday from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM at the church. There will be a family prayer service on Friday at 9:45 AM at the church. Memorials are suggested as donor's choice.

Bessie was born January 23, 1909, in Richland, Nebraska, to Frank and Mary (Wozny) Zarek. She married Noah Leslie in Belleville, Kansas, and to this union two children were born. After an auto accident claimed Noah's life, Bessie married Ross Irish on November 15, 1934, in Fullerton, Nebraska. During WWII Bessie worked at the Mead Ordinance Plant and for many years at Schwesers in Columbus. Bessie was a member of First United Methodist Church where she had taught Sunday School for many years. Bessie was an avid and skilled Bridge player and was always either organizing a game or ready to play.

Bessie is survived by:
Daughter-in-law – Margie Leslie of Columbus, NE
Step-daughter – Donna Lou (Bob) O'Brien of Omaha, NE
Step-daughter – Alice (Richard) Homan of Bradenton, FL
Step-daughter-in-law – June Irish of Columbus, NE
Many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren

Bessie was preceded in death by:
Parents – Frank and Mary Zarek
1st Husband – Noah Leslie
2nd Husband – Ross Irish
Infant Daughter – Vivian Maxine Leslie
Son – Winfred Leslie
Grandson - Kevin Leslie
Step-Son- Allen Irish
Siblings – John, Frank, Edward, Martha, Killian, Sophie, Mary, and Eleanor