Pam Lessiter of Brookfield, Wis., co-founder of Lessiter Media Inc. (LM), passed away on March 8, 2025 after an unwavering 7-year battle with lung disease. She passed peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving husband, Frank and all 4 of her children in a room packed with in-laws and grandchildren.
Pamela Ann Fuzak was born August 24, 1943, in Champaign, Ill., to Dorothy and John Fuzak, and grew up in East Lansing, Mich. While attending Michigan State Univ. (where she earned a Business Education degree), she met her soulmate, Frank Lessiter, in the university’s information services offices where both worked. After a brief courtship, they wed on November 23, 1963.
Frank and Pam Lessiter
Among the couple’s early professional work together was a book they wrote and self-published from the basement of their Illinois home, called the Agricultural Travel Guide in 1971. The book’s publishing rights were subsequently acquired by Elanco and put into motion a new career path for Frank. It was the first of a handful of book projects in which she assisted her husband. Up until her death, she remained the company’s top copyeditor and proofreader.
Together, they raised 4 children, all of whom contributed to the company throughout its 4-plus decades. Their children include Debbie Hansen (Mark) of Onalaska, Wis., Susie Grabow (Brian) of Wauwatosa, Wis., Mike (Sandy) of Brookfield and Kelly Fitch (Quinn) of East Troy, Wis. She passed away in the same Brookfield home the couple purchased in 1972, when Frank accepted a move from Chicago to lead a soon-to-be-launched publication called No-Till Farmer.
In March of 1981, she and Frank purchased No-Till Farmer, Farm Building News and The National Farm Building Show and founded LM, a niche agriculture publisher. Pam was instrumental in keeping the business afloat through the ag recession of the 1980s and navigating through a forced divestiture in 1989 that resulted in a total rebuilding of the business.
Pam Lessiter at the National Farm Building Show
For a time, the company operated with only she and Frank, and a part-time assistant. The acquisition of American Farriers Journal in 1992 marked a new beginning and provided the resources on which to expand again, and to apply their unique content-driven formula to other markets.
“Pam was instrumental in keeping the business afloat through the ag recession of the 1980s...”
Today, the company employs 41 across nearly 20 global brands that span conservation agriculture, farm machinery and equine health. Its media channels include newsletters, magazines, in-person conferences, podcasts, virtual summits, broadcasts, books, marketing services and video.
‘Ahead of Her Time’
As the company began its third decade, Pam was credited as “ahead of her time” among chief financial officers in the niche-media world. Specifically, she was noted for her early vision and diligence in establishing focused profit center P&Ls for each brand, early and advanced software use, cash-flow management, zero-sum budgeting and a highly disciplined expense management approach.
Pam was a model of how business and an enormous heart for people can go hand-in-hand. She provided emotional support for employees and was eager to provide help before being asked, especially in her favored “baby-rocker” roles.
In 2016, Frank, and son, Mike, established a scholarship in her name in 2016, the Pam Lessiter Legacy Scholarship. “Throughout her life, Pam has been dedicated to hard work, self-improvement and continuing education — the values that became the impetus for a scholarship program to encourage the recipients to use their God-given talents,” noted Mike at the announcement at the 2016 LM Christmas party. Since that time, more than 140 scholarships have been presented to the children of LM staffers in pursuit of their post-secondary education.
“She was noted for her early vision and diligence in establishing focused profit center P&Ls for each brand, early and advanced software use, cash-flow management, zero-sum budgeting and a highly disciplined expense management approach…”
Pam was always generous with her time and resources. She was particularly gifted in bringing peace and calm to others through her bright-shining personality, smiles and endless laughter, with a penchant for self-effacing humor.
Twilight Years
Pam retired from LM in 2011 to pursue her greatest love and exercise her unparalleled talents – grandmothering. Her special and unique traditions, as well as her songs and contemporary dance moves (queue up “Pump Up the Jam” and “Shut Up & Dance With Me!”), created lifetimes of memories for a very blessed all-star roster of 14 grandchildren.
Her later years included early morning aerobics at church with her beloved “Firm Believers,” a decades-long tradition of birthday lunches with friends, whiled-away hours reading from her pool swing, European river cruises with her best friend and sister, Susie Fuzak Ziara, countless family gatherings around the pool, and walks and snuggles with her treasured canine companion, Gracie.
Always Family First
But her greatest joy, and proudest accomplishment in life, was her family.
In addition to her husband, Frank, and her 4 children, Pam is survived by her younger siblings John Fuzak (Jan), Susie Fuzak Ziara (Tom), and 14 grandchildren: Alex Hansen, Molly Hansen Luchangco (Roi Luchangco), Casey Grabow Harris (Kevin Harris) Allie Grabow, Ryan Hansen (Brenna), Megan Hansen, Olivia Fitch, Will Hansen, Drew Lessiter, Logan Fitch, Abby Grabow, Owen Lessiter, Riley Fitch and Hayden Lessiter. She also was blessed with two great-granddaughters, Evie and Rosie Luchangco. She was a treasured “Aunt Pam” by 7 nieces and nephews (Roberts, Fuzaks and Ziaras).
Her favorite quote embodied what her company aimed to do in its work; to provide information and knowledge that could improve her customers’ lives. Her favorite quote was from Ralph Waldo Emerson. “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”
Final Arrangements
Visitation is 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19 at Becker-Ritter Funeral Home, 14075 W. North Ave., Brookfield, Wis. A eulogy, followed by a funeral mass, begins at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 20 at St. John Vianney (1755 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield) with a luncheon immediately following at The Western Racquet Club, 800 Highland Dr., Elm Grove. Memorial donations may be made to St. John Vianney Catholic Parish, 1755 N Calhoun Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005.
About Lessiter Media: Founded in 1981 by Frank and Pam Lessiter, Lessiter Media remains 100% family owned and led by Chairman Frank and President Mike Lessiter. Serving subscribers across the globe, its properties includes Farm Equipment, Farm Innovations, Rural Lifestyle Dealer, Precision Farming Dealer, No-Till Farmer, Strip-Till Farmer, Cover Crop Strategies, Ag Equipment Intelligence, American Farriers Journal, National No-Tillage Conference, National Strip-Tillage Conference, Precision Farming Dealer Summit, Dealership Minds Summit, International Hoof-Care Summit, the National Cover Crop Summit, On The Record and Conservation Ag Update.
