Our Rotarian of the Week grew up on a farm in Minnesota, attended New Richland High School and graduated with a class of 50. As one does in a rural school, he played football, basketball and ran track.
This Rotarian went to Mankato State University in Mankato for 1.5 years and then enlisted in the military. He served for two years as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division. After serving our country, our Rotarian of the week got a football scholarship at Kansas State and completed his degree in Agricultural Engineering.
This Rotarian took a job in Casper for the BLM as a field engineer before moving to Cheyenne to work in the BLM state office as a Licensed Chief Engineer specializing in water rights. While still in Casper, our Rotarian met his wife of 59 years in a bar called the Lounge. Jerry and Kay Jessen just recently told their adult children that they hadn’t really meet in church as they had been told. Kay was born and raised in Wyoming and is a Nationally Certified Speech and Language Pathologist. Jerry and Kay have three children. Jennifer Jessen Nelson works for #1 Properties here in Cheyenne. Joe Jessen has spent his whole career in the military, has a master’s degree in Nursing and works at a VA hospital. Brent Jessen was an Army Ranger, then a Green Beret and also worked for the State Department. They have two grandsons and one great granddaughter.
Jerry was sponsored by Tom Powers Jr. into Rotary in 1971 and that induction was his favorite Rotary Experience, although he remembers some awesome Annual District parties at the Broadmoor. Jerry served on the Rotary Board for at least 9 years and served as our President, he also coordinated the National Honor Society scholarship lunches for some years.
As a Professional Engineer Jerry has donated his time and expertise to the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities, as well as designed and supervised construction for Cheyenne Junior League Baseball Complex. Jerry served as Security Chairman and General Chairman of the CFD General Committee, as well as President of the CFD board of directors. He has also assisted with the Western Spirit Art Show and Sale and served on the Board of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum.
In 2005 Jerry was given the Community Spirit Award by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and at this presentation he vowed to “volunteer until I drop.” That same night, Roger Lawrence said that “Jessen has given tirelessly to the community and is one of those individuals responsible for making Cheyenne what it is today and what it will become in the future.”
Jerry’s favorite meal is Irish / Italian Spaghetti, the recipe for which is in the 1961 Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. Jerry plays golf at the Country Club and the Airport and says that has been his lifelong hobby.
Please help me thank Jerry for a lifetime of service and congratulate him on being Rotarian of the week!
This Rotarian took a job in Casper for the BLM as a field engineer before moving to Cheyenne to work in the BLM state office as a Licensed Chief Engineer specializing in water rights. While still in Casper, our Rotarian met his wife of 59 years in a bar called the Lounge. Jerry and Kay Jessen just recently told their adult children that they hadn’t really meet in church as they had been told. Kay was born and raised in Wyoming and is a Nationally Certified Speech and Language Pathologist. Jerry and Kay have three children. Jennifer Jessen Nelson works for #1 Properties here in Cheyenne. Joe Jessen has spent his whole career in the military, has a master’s degree in Nursing and works at a VA hospital. Brent Jessen was an Army Ranger, then a Green Beret and also worked for the State Department. They have two grandsons and one great granddaughter.
Jerry was sponsored by Tom Powers Jr. into Rotary in 1971 and that induction was his favorite Rotary Experience, although he remembers some awesome Annual District parties at the Broadmoor. Jerry served on the Rotary Board for at least 9 years and served as our President, he also coordinated the National Honor Society scholarship lunches for some years.
As a Professional Engineer Jerry has donated his time and expertise to the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities, as well as designed and supervised construction for Cheyenne Junior League Baseball Complex. Jerry served as Security Chairman and General Chairman of the CFD General Committee, as well as President of the CFD board of directors. He has also assisted with the Western Spirit Art Show and Sale and served on the Board of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum.
In 2005 Jerry was given the Community Spirit Award by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and at this presentation he vowed to “volunteer until I drop.” That same night, Roger Lawrence said that “Jessen has given tirelessly to the community and is one of those individuals responsible for making Cheyenne what it is today and what it will become in the future.”
Jerry’s favorite meal is Irish / Italian Spaghetti, the recipe for which is in the 1961 Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. Jerry plays golf at the Country Club and the Airport and says that has been his lifelong hobby.
Please help me thank Jerry for a lifetime of service and congratulate him on being Rotarian of the week!
