Gerald B. "Jerry" Jessen

NORFOLK - Funeral service for Gerald B. "Jerry" Jessen, 85, of Norfolk will be held at 10:30 am, Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at the Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk. Officiating the service will Interment Pastor Mike Gardner. The burial will be held at the Prospect Hill Cemetery, Norfolk. Visitation will be held 4:00-7:00 pm, Monday, February 20, at the Stonacek Funeral Chapel. The service will be live-streamed on the Stonacek Funeral Chapel website at https://www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/Gerald-Jessen/#!/PhotosVideos. Jerry passed away on Monday, February 13, 2023 at the Community Pride Care Center in Battle Creek. Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk is in charge of the arrangements. Jerry was born on October 15, 1937 in Redfield, South Dakota to Hans and Ottilia "Tillie" (Pfister) Jessen. Jerry attended school in Redfield. Jerry married Carol June Booze on June 20, 1955 in Redfield. Jerry started his career at a grocery store and worked his way up to head butcher. He was known at the grocery store for serenading his customers and coworkers. He next went into the restaurant business, where he and Carol owned and operated a 24-hour restaurant at a truck stop. The couple expanded their business by opening a butcher shop behind the restaurant. In the late 1960s, Jerry went to work for Combined Insurance Company and worked there until 1988, when he started his own insurance company, Jessen's Professional Insurance Agency in Norfolk. As a family-owned business, Jerry brought on all of his children to work with him, which made him and Carol proud. Jerry retired in 2019. Jerry enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, riding horses, playing and watching sports and most, he loved to spend time with his wife and family. Survivors include spouse Carol Jessen of Norfolk, children Steven (Darla) Jessen, Dale (Chris) Jessen, Wade (Jane) Jessen, and Dawn Jessen, all of Norfolk, 10 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild, siblings Arlen Jessen of Tulare, South Dakota, Richard (Cathy) Jessen of Tulare, and Rosemary (Richard) Tubandt of Tulare. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Hans and Tillie, grandson Christopher Jessen, 2 great-granddaughters Kennedy and Sadie, grandson-in-law Wayne Mackeprang, siblings Arthur (Janet) Jessen, Raymond (Donna) Jessen, Darwin (Sharol) Jessen and sister-in-law Diane Jessen. Casket bearers will be Anthony Jessen, Jared Jessen, Josh Swan, Micah Jessen, Keldon Loecker, Ryan Stusse Sr, Ryan Stusse Jr, and Ben Hanna. Honorary casket bears will be Kristel, Kandace, Kysa, Leah, Wesley, Willow, Autumn, Ashton, Colton, Amber, Adam, Vivica, Esabel, Octavia, Kalee, Afftynn, Kael, Bria, Amy, Olivia, Emma, Jack, Kay, Rachel, Ellie, Sara, Sawyer, Finn, Amelia, Laura, Piper, Ashley, Paul, and Ethan. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Gerald B. "Jerry" Jessen

October 15, 1937 - February 13, 2023