Hans H. Jess

JESS

Posted By: Marthann (email)
Date: 11/19/2007 at 12:59:39

JESS, HANS H.
Denison Bulletin/Review
11/15/2007

Hans H. Jess was born March 31, 1912, the son of Hans and Freida Stockfleth Jess. He died at the Willow Dale Wellness Village in Battle Creek, Iowa, Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at the age of ninety-five.

Hans was born in Denison and grew up in the Denison, Deloit, Ute and Schleswig areas. He received his education in Crawford County schools. After completing his education, he farmed in Crawford County. June 30, 1937, Hans was united in marriage to Ruby Miller at her parents home. To this union, two children were born. That same year, he and Ruby moved to California where Hans was employed by International Harvester for a short time before returning to Iowa in 1938 to farm near Schleswig. The family returned to California in 1945 to help family on an Avocado farm and also helped in a local cemetery before returning to the Schleswig area to continue farming.

In 1959, Ruby died. On January 14, 1962, Hans was united in marriage to Ruth Reimer in Nebraska City, Nebraska. The couple settled on a farm near Schleswig where they continued to farm. He was a loving husband, father, step-father and grandfather. He was kind, generous and caring. He had a good sense of humor and enjoyed dancing in younger years.

In his leisure time, he enjoyed being a 4-H leader, a function he continued for several years. He was a member of the United Church of Christ in Schleswig, serving the church in various offices that include serving as past president of the congregation. He served on the Crawford County Fair Board for 26 years and was inducted into the Community Hall of Fame in Schleswig for miniature horses as having the first miniature horses in the State of Iowa. His horses were shown at various fairs from the Spencer Fair to the Iowa State Fair. He also was a past member of the Masonic Order and Consistory.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Ruby; two brothers, Harry and his wife, Paula; Fred and his wife, Viola; one sister, Clara Reincke and her husband, George; and one stepson-in-law, Ronnie Teut. Survivors include his wife, Ruth of Battle Creek; one daughter, Sandra Blake and her husband, David of Gordon, Nebraska; one son, Reggie and his wife, Kathy of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; two step-children, Carol Teut and Dennis Reimer and his wife, Lorene all of Schleswig; eight grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren; and one brother Harwin Jess and his wife, Dorothy of Ankeny, Iowa.

Funeral services were held Monday, October 29, 2007 at United Church of Christ in Schleswig, Iowa. Rev. Chris Burtnett officiated the services and grave side rites held at Morgan Cemetery in Schleswig. Organist Wendy Bumann provided accompaniment for soloist Jessica Krayenhagen as she sang "You Are My Sunshine," and "What A Friend We Have in Jesus," and for the congregational hymns "Lift High the Cross," and "I'm But A Stranger Here."Those serving as pallbearers were Travis Cipriana, Randy Blake, Brian Sieren, Kelly Conover, Rocky Ellerbeck, Michael South, and Scott Kasch. The family invited everyone in attendance to join them for fellowship and lunch served by the Women's Guild. The Huebner Funeral Home in Schleswig was in charge of the arrangements.