Violet "Vi" Jessen

Violet “Vi” Dorothy Adeline Zahorsky was born on February 25, 1922 in Lakefield, Minnesota.  Her parents were the late John and Barbara (Kadorbeck) Zahorsky. Vi graduated from the Lakefield High School with the class of 1939.

Violet “Vi” Zahorsky and Alfred Sidney Jessen where united in marriage on December 2, 1939 at Hauge Parsonage in Jackson, Minnesota. Vi and Alfred resided and farmed in Burgen, Minnesota, a small town in the Windom area.  Vi also owned & operated a café in Storden in the 1950’s. In 1957 the Jessen family made their home in Verndale, Minnesota.  Alfred was employed as a livestock dealer and Vi raised her children along with working at G&L Drive-In. On November 25, 1989 Alfred Jessen passed away.

While in Verndale, Vi volunteered at the Red Cross Blood Drive and was also a prominent member of her community. She was the President of Church Rallies, a Sunday School and Bible class teacher, President of the Garden Club, and President of Ladies Aid.

Violet enjoyed flower gardening, quilting, crafts, baking and sharing her apple turnovers and muffins with all her family and friends.

On October 17, 2020 Violet Jessen passed away at Lakewood Health System in Staples, Minnesota at 98 years of age.  She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Preceding Violet in death is her husband: Alfred; parents; daughters: Judith Rae and Betty Lou; siblings: Arthur Zahorsky, Theodore Zahorsky, Philemeon Kuhn, Rose Bieuthien, Alice Kruger, and Esther Foth; and her great-grandchild Xander Schmidt-Jessen.

Surviving Violet are her children: Larry (Sharon) Jessen; Judith (Charles) Rieck; Kerry (Kerry) Jessen; grandchildren: Paula (David) Knapek; Trina (Dean) Schultz; Melissa Kaye Rieck; Brent Rieck; Christopher; Chase; Zachary; Ethan; Rodney; and Katelyn; great-grandchildren: Josh, Isabelle, Jaemon, Connor, Ella, Autumn, and Emma; sister: Marian Ann Werner; many nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

In lieu of flowers, Violet’s family asks that you send memorials to Awana Children’s Ministry at the Verndale Alliance Church in Verndale, Minnesota.

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