BESSIE JANE LASCELLES

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Bessie Jane Lascelles, 84, passed away on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics

Funeral services will be Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Pastor Jeff Arp will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 10:00 until 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home.  Online Condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com Memorials may be made to the Chapel of Praise Church.

Bessie was born on September 10, 1941, in Muscatine, the daughter of Paul Alvin and Faye Elizabeth Dennis Smith. She married Frank Albert Lascelles on November 23, 1961, in Muscatine.

Bessie worked as a baker and cook for the Muscatine Community Schools for over 30 years.

Bessie’s legacy started at the original Maid Rite where she met Frank, her story goes, she educated him to keep his hands where they belong, or she told him he could take her home.   Eventually Frank did listen, they married and had 3 beautiful children.  

Bessie’s family especially her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren were her and Frank’s absolute joy in life.  This was their reason for getting up early then going to bed late, what made regular blankets turn into a king’s fort occupying the whole front room, the reason ordinary laundry baskets became steam locomotives traveling across the continents.  Family wasn’t just a word, it was the soul and backbone for their holidays, the mainstay for gatherings and support during the hard times.  Family meant everything, and her world revolved around such.

Bessie enjoyed being the ultimate babysitter, she cooked for an army, dish washer (although Frank said this was his job), and sharer of family recipes aka potato salad.  

Anyone that entered the Lascelles home immediately became family. The philosophy was the lights always on and doors open and many people came through that door. 

Bessie had the ability to make a cardboard box feel like home just because she was there.  Her radiating smile, genuine love, her home cooked meals, her laughs, her intense games of puzzles or skip-o, and her uncanny ability to take and receive a hard time from her grandchildren. These moments while they may be small moments were her world.  She embraced it.  Bessie loved and was easy to love.  She gave that love out to anyone who may have needed it, many times in the form of full belly’s and to go containers full of food.   

Bessie was very proud of her children and their spouses, her grandchildren and their spouses and great grandchildren and made sure to tell them any chance she got. She would pray for protection over her family and ended phone calls and visits with love yous. But Bessie also wasn’t shy about telling her grandchildren how it was with phrases like “I’m just saying,” and “you better get right with the Lord, I’m praying for yous.”

It was probably because of all these prayers that many of us are where we are today. Bessie was an absolute devoted Christian and follower of Jesus, if she wasn’t attending church, she was watching it on livestream and talked with Jesus daily. Bessie’s ultimate wish was all her family come to love and receive Jesus. If anyone of us ever questioned our faith Bessie would want to pray over you and pray for you.  while losing a woman of this magnitude is indescribable, we encourage you like in her last words to seek Jesus like Bessie did.  This would mean the world to Bess. 

Bessie will be greatly missed but honorably remembered by all of her children, Margaret ‘Margo’ Steinke (Don), Frank Lascelles (Chris), and Carolyn ‘Lynn’ Arp (Jeff); her grandchildren: Edwin Steinke (Kacey), DJ Steinke (Whitley See), Ashton Phillips (Mike), Chloe Steinke, Madalynn Steinke, Lux Steinke, Frank Curtis Lascelles, Kelsey Fox (Aaron), Chase Lascelles (Brooke), Jordan Arp, Tyler Arp (Emily).  Neena’s babies: Bennett, Rydge, Kierci, Malachi, Loren, Livian, Norah, Julian, Piper, CarterAnn, Brantley,  AJ, Cormick, Easton, Bella, and Rollo; her brothers: Dorlan Smith (Irene) and Chet Smith; Sister-in-law, Sabrina Smith; brother-in-law, Jack Lascelles (Jodi); close family friend, Ed Long and all her other wonderful friends and finally her miniature teacup (actually) pint chihuahua Daisy.  Daisy says she will greatly miss her Ensure snacks from Bessie, leftovers, and snuggles. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Frank; her parents; stepmother, Mildred Smith; siblings Paul and Earl Smith, and Faye Cole (Russell); sisters-in-law, Bev and Nancy; and brother in laws, Thomas and Bill Lascelles.

“We love you forever, we’ll like you for always and for always and always you’ll be our Neena”