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Bruce Jessen
BRUCE A. JESSEN
Oelwein
Bruce A. Jessen, 78, of Oelwein, died Friday, June 10, 2016, at Mercy Living Plus, Oelwein.
Memorial service: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 14, at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein. Visitation: one hour before the service Tuesday at the funeral home. Inurnment: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Hazleton.
Memorial Fund: Hub City Heritage Corporation Railroad Museum.
Online obituary: www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com.
Bruce Arnold Jessen was born Jan. 18, 1938, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the son of Arnold Frederick and Marge Louise (Wolfe) Jessen. He graduated from Fort Dodge High School, Class of 1956, and continued his education at Iowa State University in Ames. Bruce worked at KOEL Radio in Oelwein and then WMT Channel 2 in Cedar Rapids. Bruce moved to Saudi Arabia and worked in television repair for two years. He returned to Oelwein and worked as an electrician for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad for 23 years. Bruce then worked at PMX in Cedar Rapids, Interstate Railroad in Iowa City, Pries in Independence and then Color Span in Cedar Rapids. He retired in 2003.
Bruce was united in marriage to Mildred Mary "Millie" Gerstenberger on June 7, 1975, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hazleton.
Bruce is survived by his wife of 41 years, Millie Jessen of Oelwein; sister, Virginia "Ginny" Shearer (John Steffen) of Walker, Minn.; brother-in-law, George H. Gerstenberger of Hazleton; and 11 nieces and nephews.
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