Jessie Farmer

Jessie Gleh Farmer, 89, of Altoona, formerly of Logan, IA passed away Friday, January 25, 2013, at the home of her son, Gary Olsowski in Altoona, under the loving care of her family and Iowa Hospice Care.

Jessie was born April 29, 1923, in Logan, IA, to Harry Hazen “Hazie” and Kathleen “Katie” Alice (Witt) McKean. She was the first of three children, followed by brother Donald E. in 1925, and brother G. Keith in 1934. She graduated from Logan High School in 1942 (a class that sacrificed the normal trappings of their last year for the war effort).

During WWII, she worked grocery checkout and assistant manager positions in Richmond, CA, and St. Louis, MO. After the war, she met and married Stanley Frank Olsowski on January 18, 1946, in Richmond, CA. They had five children: Gloria, 1947 in WV; Richard, 1948 in PA; Linda, 1951 in IA; John, 1952 in IA; and Gary, 1963 in IA. They resided in several places during their marriage, including West Virginia and Pennsylvania, Crescent and Council Bluffs, IA, and finally settling on a farm near Missouri Valley, IA. They were divorced in 1964.

Jessie raised her children in Logan. She worked as a housekeeper part-time, attended business school in Omaha, and then worked for Richman Gordman in Council Bluffs.

She married Harold Smith on October 22, 1977, in Logan. They resided near Olathe, CO. Harold passed away in 1979. After Harold’s death, she moved back to Iowa and resided in Ames and Indianola.

She married Walter Farmer on May 5, 1987 in Lincoln, AR where they resided until their divorce in 1991.

She then lived by her daughter, Linda, near El Paso, AR. For the past 11 years, she has resided with her son, Gary, first in Des Moines and then Altoona.

Jessie was deeply influenced by living through the Great Depression and WWII. She learned much that was useful throughout her life at the side of her parents. Jessie might have gone on to a career of teaching had it not been for the death of her maternal grandmother, Myrtle Wiley Witt in 1939, and a visit to a local country schoolhouse. Her love of music was greatly influenced by her uncle, Thomas “Tommie” Witt, who was adept at several musical instruments.

Jessie enjoyed gardening, walking, reading, and telling stories. She was blessed with good general health throughout her life, the exceptions being a thyroid deficiency and digestive discomfort. While she had both breast and colon cancer, they were caught early and stayed in remission. She only had treatable high blood pressure late in life, and had no other heart or lung problems.

Jessie was preceded in death by her son, Richard; sons-in-law, Donald Ruggles and George Jensen; her parents; both brothers; and nephew, Michael McKean.

Survivors include her children, Gloria Ruggles of Unionville, MO; Linda Jensen of Cabot, AR; John McKean and wife, Joni McClelland of Derby, KS; and Gary Olsowski and wife, Tracey of Altoona, IA; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Susan McKean of Youngstown, OH; nephew, Ronald McKean, wife, Debbie and their two sons of Annandale, VA; nephew, Eric McKean, his wife and children of Huntsville, AL; and many other relatives and friends.

Services will be held Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th Street SW in Altoona. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. followed immediately by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial will take place at 3:30 Tuesday at the Bethel Knauss Cemetery in Logan, IA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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