Thomas G. “Tom” Besl Sr., who for many years owned weekly newspapers in Melrose and Cashton, died Wednesday, Dec. 9, at his home in Melrose. He was 85.
Besl was born Dec. 14, 1934, in La Crosse to Sylvester and Viola Besl. After graduating from La Crosse’s Aquinas High School in 1953, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served as an aerial photographer during the Korean War.
On June 10, 1959, Besl married Sandra Schmidt at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Together they had five children — Kim, Kelly, Kerry, Kristen and Thom — and nine grandchildren.
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In 1960, Tom and Sandy moved to Melrose, where they owned and operated the Melrose Chronicle weekly newspaper for 42 years. They also later purchased the Cashton Record.
A private funeral service will be held Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Melrose, with a public celebration of Besl’s life to be held at a later date.
