Bessie Ellen Mangan Bauchspies

Bessie Ellen Mangan Bauchspies

Bessie Ellen Mangan Bauch-spies, 95, of Lehighton, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Victorian Manor in Lehighton. She was the wife of the late Wilbur "Cap" Bauchspies, and they were married for 61 years before his passing in 2009. Bessie met and fell in love with Cap while working as a waitress for the former Kleintop's Diner in Lehighton.

Bessie was born on Jan. 28 1930 in East Weissport to the late Clifford L. Mangan and Grace Ahner Mangan Sutters. She graduated from Lehighton High School in 1947.

Bessie helped in her husband's bread business for 29 years, worked as a nutrition aide for eight years for Carbon County under Rachel Hoffmeyer, helping many families in the county. She liked being a bus driver for Public Transportation in the Lehighton and Palmerton area and for the IU 21 in Carbon and Lehigh counties for 20 years before retiring. She was also a local registrar for the Lehighton area for 30 years recording the births and deaths of people in the area.

Bessie was interested in local government, becoming the first women in Lehighton to be elected for two terms (eight years) as a member of the Lehighton Borough Council. She also served as a treasurer for the Lehighton Action Committee, the Gnaden Huetten Cemetery Board, and the Lehighton Memorial Library Board.

She was a member of the former Grace Lutheran Church in Lehighton, where she was a Sunday school teacher and served on the church council.

In her spare time, Bessie enjoyed doing water aerobics, playing cards at the local recreational center, playing bunco with her family and friends, and sitting on the porch. She was always very social and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

She is survived by her son, Dennis Bauchspies, husband of Bonnie (Yvonne Riegel) of Franklin Township; daughter, Kathy, wife of Lee Getz of Las Vegas, NV; grandchildren, Kelly and Kristen Bauchspies of Lehighton, and Benjamin and Alexander Getz of Las Vegas, NV; brother, Norman Sutters of Franklin Township; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sons, John and Joel Bauchspies; daughter, Kay Bauchspies; brother, Wilmer Mangan; and sister, Marian Mangan.

Service: A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Schaeffer Funeral Home, 300 Alum St., Lehighton, with a calling to be held before the service from 10 to 11 a.m. Committal service to be private. Online condolences may be made at schaefferfunerals.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Lehighton Memorial Library, 124 North St., Lehighton, PA 18235 or the Lehighton Area Pool Pals c/o Mark Hoffman 465 N. Fourth St., Lehighton, PA 18235.