Donald L. Jess

Donald L. Jess, 76, of Bellevue, passed away on Thursday, April 2, 2009, surrounded by his family and friends at Mill Valley Care Center in Bellevue. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am Monday, April 6, at Kingery~Lemke Funeral Home. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 7pm Sunday April 5, at the funeral home where a scripture service will be at 2:30 pm, the public is welcome. Visitation will be held again Monday from 10:00 until service time at the funeral home. Don was born October 11, 1932 in Bellevue, son of Louis & Minnie (Moltmann) Jess. He married Joan Portz on December 27, 1952, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bellevue. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Don worked at John Deere Dubuque Works for 33 years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 273 and UAW 94. Don was a quiet but witty man with a great sense of humor. He always had time for his family and was very fond of his grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing, euchre, spending time with his family, and watching the Cardinals and the Bellevue Braves. Surviving is his wife of 56 years, Joan Jess, of Bellevue; three sons, Greg (Michelle) Jess, Mark (Karen) Jess, and Paul (Mickala) Jess, all of Bellevue; four daughters, Debra (Cliff) DeLarm, of Monmouth, Iowa, Pamela Mottet, of Long Grove, Iowa, Barbara Klemme, of Miles, and Mary (Pat) Hurley, of Bellevue; eleven grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; several step grandchildren; numerous step great grandchildren; and step great great grandchildren; a brother, Ken (Charlotte) Jess, of Bellevue; a sister, Jeanette Watson, of Hanover, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Charlene; eight brothers and sisters; and a Step great granddaughter, April. The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice of Jackson County, Mill Valley Care Center, and Jackson County Health Care Center for their special care and compassion shown to Donald. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kingeryfuneralhome.com