Gerstenberger, Bessie.

Bessie Keeney Gerstenberger earned a B.S. (1937) in Zoology from Iowa State University, an M.A. (1941) in Health and Physical Education Administration from the University of Iowa, and a Ph.D. (1972) from the University of Illinois. During World War II she worked as a social worker with families and military personnel in Columbus, Georgia; Burlington, Iowa; and Junction City, Kansas. In addition, she wokred various scientific jobs, including work as a company inspector of the detonator line at the Iowa Ordinance Plant in Burlington, Iowa; a chemist at the Bluebonnet Ordnances Plant in McGregor, Texas; and a laboratory technician at the University of Illinois.

Following the war, Gerstenberger focused her career on education and recreation. She worked for the Iowa State University Extension Service as a State Health and 4-H Radio Specialist, and she developed curriculum in health, physical education, and recreation for school districts in Iowa. Throughout the 1950s and 19960s, she held a variety of jobs as a private recreation consultant, in instructor for the YWCA in Des Moines, and an instructor of Women's Physical Education at Drake University. In 1967, Gerstenberger began work on her Ph. D. at the University of Illinois, where she also taught courses in recreation and physical education. After earning her Ph.D., Gerstenberger became the State Educational Coordinator for the Iowa Office of Planning and Programming. She then worked in a variety of positions for the Department of Public Instruction. While there, she promoted programs for physical education for the handicapped, the use of computers in education, and health education.

In addition to her professional activities, Gerstenberger was active with Toastmasters International, a public speaking organization, as well as other civic and volunteer groups.