Jess, Lawrence R. – 1925–2011

CRAFT, DECKER, JESS, RAWLS

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 3/16/2011 at 17:18:15

URBANDALE — Lawrence R. Jess, 85, passed away Feb. 28, 2011, at Mercy Hospice. He was born Dec. 17, 1925, in Newton, Iowa, to John and Trina Jess. He graduated from Newton Senior High School and worked at Maytag Dairy in Newton. He married Betty Decker in 1947, and they moved in 1954 to Des Moines, where he worked for BF Goodrich and then retired from Sears in 1987. Lawrence was a U.S. Army veteran serving in Korea during World War II.
Lawrence is survived by his wife, Betty; sons, Dean (Pam) of Des Moines, Richard (Penny) of Urbandale and Bill of West Des Moines; daughters, Rebecca (John) Rawls of North Carolina and Donita (Randy) Craft of Urbandale; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. at New Hope Assembly of God Church in Urbandale with funeral services on Friday, March 4, at 10:30 a.m. at the church.
Memorial contributions may be directed to New Hope Assembly of God Church or to Mercy Hospice.
Source: Newton Daily News; Wed., March 2, 2011