William "Bill" M. Jessen 1928-2010

JESSEN PETERSON STEINHAUER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/16/2011 at 00:56:53

Sioux City Journal
23 August 2010

BRONSON, Iowa -- William "Bill" M. Jessen, 81, of Bronson passed away Friday, Aug. 20, 2010, at a nursing home in Le Mars, Iowa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Elliott Creek Presbyterian Church in Bronson, with Pastor David Husmann officiating. Burial will be in Westfork Township Cemetery at Climbing Hill, Iowa. Visitation will be 3:30 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home in Sioux City. Online condolences may be sent to www.christysmith.com.

Bill was born on Oct. 18, 1928, in rural Danbury, Iowa, to William R. and Elsie C. (Peterson) Jessen. He grew up and attended school in the Danbury area. On Nov. 12, 1949, he married Geraldine L. Steinhauer at the Church of Christ in Sioux City. They moved to the Bronson area in 1952 and had resided there ever since.

Bill was a lifelong farmer, milking cows and raising grain crops. While farming, he also worked at Cudahy's packinghouse in Sioux City and later the brickyard in Sergeant Bluff. After retiring from farming, he owned and operated a tank wagon service hauling gas and oil while working with his son, Mike at East Acres Oil in Bronson.

Bill enjoyed playing euchre, restoring old antique cars, camping and fishing. He will be remembered as being "the most generous, gentle man and best friend you could ever have."

Survivors include his loving wife, Geraldine of Bronson; children, Sheryl and Larry Lewis of Sioux City, Susie Jessen and Al Smith of Bronson, Robert and Jody Jessen of Sioux City, Patti Jessen of Bronson, Roger and Sherry Jessen of Sergeant Bluff, and Jennifer Jessen and Sue McCoy of Sioux City; daughter-in-law, Lindy Jessen of Bronson; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Frank and Vi Jessen of Stuart, Iowa, and Bob and Jerri Jessen of Sioux City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Mike Jessen; twin daughters, Denise and Diane Jessen; two sisters, Marriel Ehlers and Liz Cummins; and two brothers, Arvene Jessen.