The funeral service for Ellis &uot;Jim&uot; James Jessen will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 14, at the Church of All Saints Catholic Church, New Richland. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3:30-7 p.m. today at the Friedrich Funeral Home in New Richland, and one hour before the service at the church, Military honors will be accorded by the New Richland American Legion and Waseca VFW.

Jim died on Wednesday, June 11, 2003, at the Waseca Medical Center, Waseca. He was 79 years old.

Jim was born in Everly, Iowa, on Feb. 4, 1924, the son of George and Alice T. (Fell) Jessen. He was a 1941 graduate of Everly High School. In l943, Jim spent nine months going to college in Lincoln, Neb., with the Army Engineers program. Then from February 1943 to November 1945 while serving in World War II, he was sent to Combat Infantry 44th Division, Company E of the 72nd. He was wounded in France and received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge. From 1945 to 1948, Jim attended Iowa State College.

On Aug. 19 1947, Jim was united in marriage with Annette &uot;Ann&uot; Edwards in Decorah, Iowa. They are members of Church of All Saints where Jim was active in many of its functions.

Jim was a city engineer for the city of New Richland for 20 years and also worked for Jones, Hough and Smith Engineering for 40 years. He also farmed in Waseca and Freeborn counties for 50 years.

From 1974 to 1990, Jim held the position of Minnesota LICA Executive Secretary. Jim was a life member of the Waseca VFW and a member of the New Richland American Legion. He donated his time to the construction engineering of the New American Legion Building and Community Center in New Richland.

Jim and his wife Ann have taken a great interest in the community and have invested in and built an apartment building in New Richland. In 1990 they received the Minnesota LICA Lifetime Member Achievement Award.

Jim is survived by his wife, Ann of New Richland; nine children: Geoffrey (Patrica) Jessen of New Richland, Terri (Richard) Sullivan of Alexandria, Va., Janann (Stanley) Cummings of St. Albans, Vt., Vicki (Roger) Windfeldt of Eden Prairie, Dr. James (Sandi) Jessen of Mankato, Charles Jessen of Mill Valley, Calif., Stacie (John) Nowak of Morgan Hill, Calif., George (Jayne) Jessen of Mason City, Iowa, and Julie (Greg) Sticha of Burnsville; many grandchildren; special nephew, Dr. Richard (Rose) Edwards of Rochester, N.Y.; one brother, Gerald (Kay) Jessen of Cheyenne, Wyo.; twin sister, Elaine (Edward) Scribbins of Webster City, Iowa; and nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents: George and Alice Jessen; and one brother, Paul.