Jessen, Richard (1933-2015)

JESSEN, MOURLAM, HELTON, JACKSON

Posted By: Colleen J Ossman (email)
Date: 11/16/2015 at 14:12:36

November 10, 2015
The Daily Freeman Journal

Richard Jessen, 81, of Webster City, died, Sunday, November 8, 2015 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2015 at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center with Pastor Chad Halbach officiating. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

Richard Raymond Jessen, son of Arvene and Beulah Mourlam Jessen, was born November 27, 1933 at the family home near Blairsburg. He attended school in Webster City. He began loading trucks at Morton Frozen Foods at the age of 16. He married Shirley Jean Helton on June 7, 1952 in Webster City. In 1959 he started driving truck. During his 52 year career he drove for Morton Frozen Foods and Willis Shaw hauling frozen food and for Van Diest Supply hauling agricultural chemicals. Richard's trucker handle was Cool Whip. He was proud to be recognized as a safe and experienced driver, logging more than five million miles without an accident. In 2012 he started driving a school bus and took great care in being the driver for the day care, preschool and special needs children. He continued to drive school bus full time until shortly before his death.

Richard is survived by sons, Donald (Joyce) Jessen of Colfax, Darrell (Doreen) Jessen of Iowa Falls, Michael Jessen of Webster City; grandchildren, Paula, Phillip, Cher, Reuben, Leah, Adam, Rachel, Jennifer; great-grandchildren, Brandon, Connor, Brady, Carli, Drew, Katelin, Michael, Nick, Jack; brothers, Garry (LaVon) Jessen of Macomb, IL, Robert Jessen of Eagle Grove; sister, Patricia Jackson of Silverdale, WA; many nieces, nephews and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Shirley.

Richard was very strong in his faith. He enjoyed watching NASCAR and football, cheering for Jeff Gordon and the Dallas Cowboys. In his early years he raced stockcar and played basketball with the Morton Frozen Food's intramural team. When he wasn't working he could be found watching the birds eat from his bird feeder and was able to feed the squirrels by hand.