Kenneth "Bear" Jessen
April 04, 2014
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Service Details
Kenneth Dale Jessen was born June 19, 1948. A veteran, he lost his battle with cancer on April 4, 2014. He was a bear of a man with the heart of a teddybear.
He is survived by his daughters, Linda Jessen, Crystal (Brett) King and Heather Mcluen; grandkids, Andrew, Cassie, Kaleb, Griffin and Rubin; and great-grandson, lil’ Owen.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 11, 2014 at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
His daughters would appreciate any memories you have to share.
“You ARE a soul. You HAVE a body.”
We love you, dad.
A Friend
12/01/2014
Ken was a rare person who came along and raised the standard of kindness. True kindness is measured through the success of those lives he touched.
Sam Leo
04/13/2014
I met Kenny at Grand View College and we became friends. We were room mates at the University of Iowa in 1967, first at a dorm called the Mayflower and then rented a house together with two other guys. Kenny will always be in my heart as a good friend. I have only seen him once since then in Des Moines and we only were able to talk for a few minutes. I don't know why but two weeks ago I tried to look Kenny up on Facebook along with my other room mates but could not find him. After all these years I was hoping to reconnect with my friend. I was surprised to see his name in the obituaries and am sorry we had not connected again. My condolences to the Jessen family. He is in my prayers.
Billie Jessen
04/10/2014
An unforgetable Man.
You were and always will be my HERO.
Forever in this Heart of mine, an everlasting bond.
Until we meet again
I Love you Bear
Sissy Davis
04/10/2014
Sorry to hear about your dad Crystal. Take care.
steve
04/09/2014
Growing up, Kenny was my best friend and helped shape my life. So many great memories. Thank you Kenny and God bless.
ellen
04/09/2014
You said it when you wrote 'heart of a teddy bear'. He was a dear friend.
While he was in Nam, we sent him bottles of liquor and, at his request, bottles of ketchup and bunches of McDonald's plastic straws.
Kenny was also very intelligent.
My son's middle name is Kenneth, after Kenny. He was a good and interesting part of my life and I'm grateful for him.
Linda (Jessen) Hantman
04/09/2014
To me, he was Kenny. He was sweet and very smart, with a great smile, beautiful brown eyes, and a sense of humor.
He did not deserve to have his life cut short by illness and the damage caused by serving in Viet Nam. He served his country, he loved his kids, he always did the best he could. A good man.
Did you know he was adopted by the Jessens? It all began when he was a baby and his mother could not take care of him and work (yes, that was impossible in those days). She arranged with the Jessens, who were unable to have a child of their own, to care for him while she worked. Eventually it became apparent that she would never be able to work and care for a baby and the Jessens had fallen in love with him, so they agreed on an adoption.
His birth mother stayed in Des Moines and married and had 3 more children. She kept track of Ken, though she was not in touch with him. When her eldest daughter, Patty (my best friend), was approaching graduation from D.M. Technical HIgh and planning to enroll at the local JC, she became alarmed. She knew that Ken was at the JC too, and was worried that if the two of them met, they would be attracted to one another, given their similarities. So, one day, she called Kenny. He often told the story of how he answered the phone and the voice on the other end said, Hello, this is your mother. He looked to his right, where the only mother he had ever known was sitting, and said, Who? He had known he was adopted, though he knew nothing about his birth parents until that day. He soon met his birth mother, her mother, and his half-sister Patty. He and Patty hit if off right away.
It was Patty who introduced him to me, and my fondest memory of that time is from the spring of 1967, when I was a senior at D.M. Tech. Ken and I had been on a couple of dates, but I did the conventional thing and went to our schools prom with a classmate. What I still laugh over is that when my date dropped me off at home in the early morning, I had a pre-arranged date with Kenny. He picked me up at 4 a.m. and took me bowling in my prom dress. We had a great time.
The next bit that brings a smile is that we produced a beautiful baby with Kens big brown eyes and sweet round cheeks. The story of how she got her name is this: Kennys grandmother (mother of his birth mother) was a highly renowned witch in Des Moines. Many of the local hobnobs consulted her. I am NOT KIDDING! Her specialty was astrology, so of course she had to draw the astrological chart for our unborn baby. She predicted a boy who would be a ballet dancer so we only had boy names picked out for our unborn child. In due course, there we were with a baby girl. On such short notice, we only came up with Linda my name! To differentiate us, I created the Dee Ann (the double middle name has been a cross for her to bear all her life: it builds fortitude) and the lovely nickname of Lin-Dee. She has forgiven me, but please call her Linda and forget everything I said about Lin-Dee.
Dan Taylor
04/08/2014
Odd that I would go to the DM Register site today, of all days, and see your obituary. May God Bless. My prayers go out to your family at this difficult time. While I haven't seen you since EHS, I have fond have memories of your Mom & Dad and the old store. And of course, high school.
Jamie
04/08/2014
Ken, the guru of computers, loyal to the brand Compaq. Being the first to introduce me to the dot matrix home printer, generously sharing your lap top computer with me to write a 20+ page paper (you were the first and only to own a laptop). I will always remember you for your patience, being soft spoken, and your intelligence. Being long time friends with Heather, I know a part of you is forever carried on through her. You are greatly missed my many.
Bob Lauritsen
04/08/2014
Ken,
You will be missed but, Oh the memories will last forever. Farewell Prophet.
Julie Antenucci
04/05/2014
Jessen Family: I know no words can come even remotely close to healing the pain you must feel. My heart goes out to you at this difficult time. Know he is in Gods hands.