Obituary of Marion Jessen

Marion Jessen, 94, passed away Thursday, December 20, 2012, at Lantern Park Nursing & Rehab Center in Coralville, Iowa. Marion Janet Jessen was born December 1, 1918, in Aberdeen, South Dakota the daughter of Wilhelmina (Minnie) and Ray Arthur. The family moved to Waterloo, Iowa in 1919. She graduated from East High School in 1937. She attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa for 6 months. From September 1937 to May 1942, she taught in rural one room schools in Black Hawk County. On July 12, 1942, she was united in marriage to Otto Jessen in Waterloo, Iowa. Together they owned a dairy farm and operated a retail dairy route with Otto's brothers. In 1951 they bought a farm on Hammond Avenue in Orange Township. From 1941-1955 she volunteered for the Red Cross, Parents Teachers, and the American Cancer Society. In 1955, she helped establish the American Cancer Society in Black Hawk County and became its executive director. On July 1, 1962, she bought her own business, Personal Gifts Company, a wholesale mail order business selling paper party supplies to retailers across the United States. In 1965, she bought a card and party shop in downtown Waterloo which was named The Paper Tree. In 1970, she leased a card and gift shop at the Crossroads Mall in Waterloo. She closed both stores in 1974 and operated the gift shop from the same location as Personal Gifts Company at 3306 Midway Drive, Waterloo. In 1982, Otto and Marion moved to Lancaster, California to take care of her mother. They returned to Midway Drive in 1987 and moved to Mallard Point in Cedar Falls on November 1997. In 2007, she moved to Iowa City. She was a member of the South Waterloo-Brethren Church, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and the Danish Brotherhood. She was the family historian for many years and visited German-Russian relatives in Germany to study her family genealogy. She volunteered at a daycare center where she loved rocking the babies. Her joys were having family get-togethers, taking trips and helping others. She will always be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Survivors include sons, Tom (Nyle) of Iowa City, Jerry (Karin) of Orem, Utah and daughter, Lynet Lorenz (Randy) of Waterloo, 7 grandchildren; Kristine Hallaway (Steve) of Edina, Minnesota, Dawn Pawluk (Michael) of Arlington, Virginia, Gail Jessen of Salt Lake City, Utah, Ryan Jessen of New Orleans, Louisiana, Matthew Jessen (Heather White) of Waterloo, Patrick Berry of Waterloo and Derrick Berry (Jodi) of Guatemala City, Guatemala and 3 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers Gene (Pat) Arthur of Waterloo, Dr. Jim Arthur (Shirley) of Villa Park, California, Dick Arthur (Charlotte) of Foresthill, California, sister-in-law Helen Arthur of Tucson, Arizona and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Otto, and brother Ralph. A memorial service will be held at a later time. Online condolences may be sent for Marion's family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Gay & Ciha Funeral Service of Iowa City is caring for Marion's family and her arrangements. Marion will be deeply missed by her family.