Jessie Mae Olesen

Jessie Mae Olesen, the daughter of Harold A. and Lois (Shoesmith) Long, was born September 4, 1925, at her parents’ home in Orange Township, Guthrie County, Iowa. After a full and fruitful life, loved by so many, she joined her husband Earl in heaven on July 22, 2016 at the age of 90 years, 10 months, and 18 days.
In the first chapter of her life, Jessie was baptized and confirmed at the Orange Township Methodist Church. She attended rural schools White Rock School and Orange Township #5 in Guthrie County. In later years, she often lamented her lack of education due to the need for her at home; yet her knowledge and wisdom accrued over the years were far greater than any gained inside four walls. Jessie started a new chapter when she moved to Coon Rapids, Iowa, and was employed at Textor’s Grocery Store as a young teenager. She boarded in town and sent her earnings home. Her stories from this time inspired awe from her family…and some good laughs too.
Perhaps Jessie’s most memorable chapter began, on August 15, 1949, as she was united in marriage to Earl Channing Olesen at the First Christian Church in Coon Rapids, Iowa. They were blessed with one son, Dennis. They lived in California for a short time until Earl was honorably discharged from the United States Navy. Stories of these two farm kids making their way in California brightly illustrated this chapter in their life. They then returned to Audubon area. This part of her story is full of service, love, and hard work. Jessie was a homemaker, but during harvest, she was employed by Garst and Thomas sorting ear corn when not feeding a table full of men working the harvest in her own home. Jessie and Earl operated farms in the Audubon County and Guthrie County areas, grew row crops, and raised livestock until they retired in 2013. Even in the last years before they moved to the Care Center, Jessie could be seen sitting beside Earl in their pickup checking on the crops. Jessie and Earl lived full, productive lives serving family and friends in their homes before moving to the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa, in June of 2014. Here they continued to reach the hearts of many…always the consummate grandparents to everyone. Earl died January 16, 2016; ‘leaving the most beautiful bride in Audubon County’, who missed him dearly, but rejoiced in an end to earthly struggles of aging for her groom.
Words fail to express the kind of life Jessie led. It is not enough to say that Jessie enjoyed gardening and baking. Or that she was famous for her homemade noodles and macaroni. We might try to summarize by saying the coffee pot was always on and waiting to entertain anyone that visited. Of course we would be remiss in omitting that above all she enjoyed helping to raise her grandchildren and great grandchildren. But the most prominent motif of Jessie’s story was the way she made people feel. She loved, served, and worked tirelessly. She made every place she lived home. Her door was never locked. There was no hurt or ache or sickness that could not be cured with some down home wisdom and perspective…and of course, a Little Debbie snack. Jessie loved. Tirelessly. Unconditionally. Faithfully. She lived a life worthy of any book, all its chapters filled with this type of love no matter the circumstances she found herself in. She lived a life worth telling.
Preceding her in death was her husband Earl C. Olesen; her daughter-in law Sandy Olesen; her grandson Christopher Tibben; her brothers and sisters an infant sister Nancy Lee Long, Evelyn and husband Harold Olesen, Jr., Paul and wife Gladys Long, Howard and wife Rose Long, Melvin Long and Clayton Long; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Howard Olesen, Rich Monthei, Ramona and husband Charles Richardson, William and wife Barbara Olesen, Robert and wife Terri Olesen, and Jens Olesen.
Survivors include her son Dennis Olesen of Audubon, Iowa; her grandchildren Matt and wife Melanie Olesen of Harlan, Iowa, Sarah and husband Stephen Asmus of Audubon, Iowa, Jennifer and husband Kevin Erb of Manning, Iowa, Carrie and husband Michael Bauer of Audubon, Iowa, Nicole and husband James Brown of Exira, Iowa, and Seth and wife Luka Olesen of Audubon, Iowa; 23 great grandchildren; her brother and sisters Helen Monthei of Audubon, Iowa, Maurice and wife Angie Long of Coon Rapids, Iowa, Joan Strautman of Carroll, Iowa, Ann Long of Lynchburg, Tennessee; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Naomi Golay, Eunice Herron, and Claribel and husband Merlin Sievers all of Coon Rapids, Iowa, Mary Ann Olson of Vail, Iowa, and Max and wife Karen Olesen of Coon Rapids, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral service will be conducted by Pastor Joyce Webb on Saturday, July 30, 2016, at 11:00 A.M. at the First Christian Church in Coon Rapids, Iowa. Inurnment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa. The casket bearers will be Dilan Olesen, Kevin Erb, Stephen Asmus, James Brown, Michael Bauer, Tom Sievers, and Eric Clark. The family will meet with friends Friday evening July 29, 2016, at 5:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.