Lois Jayne Jessen

Lois Jayne (Granteer) Jessen, the foster daughter of Marion and Evelyn (Blair) Boose, was born December 27, 1934 in Dunlap, Iowa and peacefully passed away on October 27, 2019, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 84 years and 10 months.

Lois was baptized and confirmed at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church, where she was an active member for many years. She later attended the Exira Lutheran Church and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic. Her faith played a huge role in her life and she was very active in her church community.

In her early years Lois and her siblings moved to the Elim Children’s Home in Elk Horn, Iowa. Marion and Evelyn Boose became Lois’ foster parents during her high school years and she helped them care for Evelyn’s mother. Lois attended the Elk Horn Community Schools and graduated with the High School Class of 1954.

On April 24, 1955, she was united in marriage to John H. Jessen at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Lois helped John operate the farm where they grew row crops and raised livestock together; she often co-piloted for John on long farm trips. She loved plants and always had large flower and vegetable gardens. Along with helping John farm, she volunteered at the Extension Office, taught Sunday School, and volunteered at the library. She was an avid reader, enjoyed many kinds of crafts and sewing, writing children's books, and was an accomplished organist. Lois spoke to many organizations about the Elim Children’s Home and fondly recalled the memories she made there.

Lois always had a positive attitude and a smile; her family fondly remembers her famous giggle. She loved hosting and making everyone feel welcome. She often said “there is always room at the table,” and wouldn’t hesitate to rearrange furniture to make another person feel welcome. Lois was the type of person who would help anyone, and she was especially passionate about helping her grandchildren.

John died December 19, 1999; Lois continued to live on the farm for a short time before moving to Atlantic, Iowa in May of 2000. Lois enjoyed her home in Atlantic until she moved to the Heritage House in 2013. She loved to participate in activities, talk with friends, and spent so much time outside that other residents often referred to her as “the walker”.

Preceding her in death was her husband John H. Jessen; her son-in-law Dan Kuskulis; her daughter-in-law Rhonda Jessen; her foster parents Marion and Evelyn Boose; her mother-in-law and father-in-law Harold and Margaret Jessen; her sisters, Pauline and husband Donald Olesen, Lila and husband John Wells, and Shirley and husband Donald Peterson; and her brother Marvin Granteer.

Survivors include her four children, Rhonda Kuskulis of Ankeny, Iowa, Lori Harper of Kansas City, Missouri, Jeff Jessen of Exira, Iowa, and Ellen Jessen and partner Richard Covell of Ontario, Oregon; her six grandchildren, Ashley Kuskulis and her partner Matthew Tanner of Orange, California; Nathan Harper and fiancé Laverne Eubanks and their sons Weston and Edward Harper of Kansas City, Missouri; Jenny Jessen and her husband Nathan Moser of Exira, Iowa; David and wife Danielle Jessen and their daughter Nevaeh of Atlantic, Iowa, Lisa and husband Dibaker Das of Hillsboro, Oregon; John Jessen Brown of Ontario, Oregon; her Elim Children’s Home family, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Following her wishes, cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at a later date.