James D. Jessen

August 26, 1950 - August 10, 2020

James “Jim” Dwight Jessen Sr., 69, of Highfill, Ark., died Aug. 10, 2020, at The Waters Nursing Home in Rogers, Ark. He was born Aug. 26, 1950, in Indio, Calif., to JC Jessen and Bonnie Broyles Jessen. He grew up in Fifty-Six, Ark., and moved to Idaho as a young man to work as a hunting guide. He moved to Highfill, where he met Doris Elliot and they married on March 13, 1976. He worked as a dairy farmer and later at Curran Feed Store in Gentry, Ark. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with family. He was preceded in death by his wife; his father; and a brother, Bo Jessen. He is survived by three children, Jc Jessen and wife Heather of Centerton, Ark., Jeannie Jones and husband Bill of Cassville, Mo., and James Jessen Jr. and wife Janelle of Decatur, Ark.; six grandchildren, Jessica Sherman and husband Vernon of Ohio, Abby Jessen and Jaycee Jessen of Centerton, and Emily Jessen, Isaac Jessen and Adriana Jessen of Decatur; two great-grandchildren, Maya and Adelynn Sherman of Ohio; his mother, of Pineville, Mo.; one brother, David Jessen of Pineville; six sisters, Sherry Gosser of Fifty-Six, Linda Bowden of Maine, Frances Pitts of Fifty-Six, Rosemary Jessen of Pineville, Donna Miller of Decatur, and Della Guyll of Jane, Mo.; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs, Ark., with Pastor Randy Roughton officiating. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. immediately preceding the funeral at Wasson Funeral Home. For the funeral and visitation, guests will be limited to 150 people and everyone will be required to wear their own face mask, per the guidelines set forth by the State of Arkansas. Burial will be at Highfill Cemetery at a later date.