Jesse L. Bawell, 81, of Willow Hill passed away peacefully in his home on April 10, 2024.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Katie E. (Zook) Bawell.

He was born on November 30, 1942, in Bareville, Lancaster County, a son of the late Amos and Rebecca (Lapp) Bawell.  Formerly of Leola, he moved to Fannettsburg in 1994.

As a young man, he worked as a mason.  He then joined the family business, Amos Bawell and Sons in Leola, doing custom butchering and running a retail store and later started Wild Bill Snack Foods, producing world famous beef jerky and snack sticks.  After selling his share of Wild Bill and retiring, he started General Snack Foods in Gettysburg.

His work didn't define him as he had many interests outside of work.  As a young man, he was the pitcher for multiple softball teams.  He brought his team home with a trophy in several local tournaments.  He enjoyed playing shuffleboard in a league.  He was also an avid hunter of all types of game.  He hunted near his home in PA, many other states and traveled to Canada to hunt bear.

Everyone who knew him knew his big passion was fishing.  Affectionately known as "Top Hook", he was a licensed commercial fisherman, taking fishing parties out on the Delaware Bay for over twenty years.  He was the Captain of the "Katie Did To" and worked to catch fish and make memories for his parties.  He caught everything from trout to sand sharks, and an oyster cracker now and then.

He was Pop Pop to his grandchildren.  He had such a special relationship with each of them.  He created many lifetime lessons and memories with them, teaching them to fish, about life, about being a good person.

He was a long-time member of the Fort London and Dry Run Legions.

Surviving with his wife, Katie, are two children, Linda Demmi (Fred) of Lititz, and Max Bawell (Gina) of Willow Hill; four grandchildren, Abigail Bair (Evan) of Akron, Alexander Newport, US Army stationed in Germany, Ashley Bawell of Shippensburg and Jesse Bawell of Willow Hill; one great granddaughter, Kiera Bair; two brothers, Daniel Bawell (Dawn) of Manheim and Amos Bawell, Jr. of Virginia; and four sisters, Naomi Witmer of Akron, Ruth Smucker (John) of Harrisonburg, VA, Edna Stoltzfus (David) of Lancaster and Emma Stoltzfus (Amos) of Leola.

Services are private at the convenience of the family.  www.agettlakjer.com