Joseph G. Jesso, 79, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Exeter Hospital in Exeter, NH on May 4, 2020.
Born in Denver, Colorado, he was the son of the late Ethel (Fravel) Jesso and the late Joseph Francis Jesso. He was raised on a family ranch in Orton Flat, about 40 miles North West of Ft. Pierre, South Dakota, by his uncle Clifford Fravel and wife Phyllis Fravel. Joe rode his horse or walked to the one room schoolhouse through 8th grade before moving to Rapid City to attend high school. Joe enlisted in the United States Navy in December 1957 at the age of 17 and left South Dakota. He was ultimately stationed on the USS Aeolus at the US Naval Submarine Yard in Portsmouth, NH. Joe met his bride to be, Carol Wedge and they were married 6 months later.
Joe is survived by his wife of 60 years and the love of his life and best friend, Carol (Wedge) Jesso; daughters, Jo-Ann Jesso-Freeman of Derry, NH, Jan (Jesso) Herlihy of Atkinson, NH, Jacqueline (Jesso) Batchelder and husband Herb Jr. of North Reading, MA and Jerri (Jesso) Johnston and Scott Vezina of Plaistow, NH; 13 grandchildren: Jessica Bent, Joseph Freeman, James Herlihy, Jonathan Herlihy, Ryan Carrigan, Joseph Lovell, Morgan Carrigan, Brian Freeman, Amy Freeman, Nicole Johnston, Samantha Carrigan, Victoria Johnston and Richard Johnston; 4 great grandchildren, Savannah Freeman, Sadie Bent, Hunter Herlihy and Paisley Lovell; Brothers Robert Jesso of Rapid City, South Dakota, Ken Lange of Box Elder, South Dakota; Aunt Phyllis Fravel of Orton Flat, South Dakota; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
When Joe left the Navy, he went to work for his father-in-law Charlie Wedge in the oil business and driving school bus in North Reading, MA. Charlie sold the oil business and Joe went with the business to work for Country Gas Service (Eastern Propane) in Danvers, MA and in Rochester, NH where he worked for more than 30 years before going to work for Palmer Gas in Atkinson, NH where he worked for 10 plus years as their safety officer and where he retired from in 2015.
Joe was a US Navy veteran as well as a member of the Masons. He was also a member of the Hampstead, NH recreation department where he and Carol planned numerous trips for the Hampstead senior citizens. He and Carol enjoyed traveling as often as they could, seeing all parts of the country, and taking several cruises over the years to Hawaii, Alaska and several to the Caribbean, his favorite being Alaska. He and Carol enjoyed long rides all over the place, enjoying the sights and sounds of New England. Any day was a good day for a Sunday drive. Joe was a devoted husband and father. He taught his girls many things growing up, from using tools and how to fix things, to painting. He was always very involved and always supported his daughter’s sports and activities as they grew up, and as his grandchildren became active, he was always there watching them play sports or whatever activities they were involved in. He was a “super fan”.
Joe will always be known and remembered for his kind heart, caring and compassionate ways. He was always polite and kind to anyone he met and everyone who knew him would tell you he was a true gentleman. He was truly interested in what people had to say and had a way of immediately making people feel comfortable. He was well known for giving great hugs and having a strong, firm handshake. He had many stories to tell of growing up on the prairie of South Dakota and of his time in the Navy. Joe has said that he “wishes every child had the opportunity to live and work on a ranch or farm for at least one year of their life!” Growing up out on the Great Plains played a significant part in the values that Joe lived his life by. He had many wonderful and funny sayings or “Papaisms” as his grandchildren would call them. He would make everyone laugh when he would say one. Joe was a wealth of knowledge and his stories will be greatly missed.
ARRANGEMENTS: Due to the Covid pandemic, there will be a private burial at Riverside Cemetery in North Reading, MA at a date to be determined. A Celebration of Life will be held from 4 to 6 pm at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street in North Reading, MA on Wednesday September 2, 2020 which would have been Joe’s 80th birthday. We hope everyone who knew and loved Joe will help celebrate the beautiful, full and blessed life he lived. www.CroswellFuneralHome.com
He was a great guy and a great neighbor. My sympathies to the entire family.
Cindy, although it’s been decades since I saw you last, I’m so sorry to hear of your husbands’ passing. His obit tells a story of a special man, husband and father. You had many years of loving partnership and I am glad to know that. Please know I am thinking of you in your time of loss.
Joe was one of a kind and a gentle man with a loving and generous heart. He will be greatly missed
Dear Carol, Jo-Ann, Jerri, Scott, Jackie,Herb, Jan, grand children and great grand children,
We are so sorry for your loss. Joe was a dear, dear friend and he will be missed more than any words can express.
He was a true gentleman- a kind and honest and gentle man. We were so blessed to know him and call him our friend. Our hearts are heavy with his loss but our lives are so much more richer for having known him. His friendship was a treasure. His love for his family was a driving force in his life.
We send you all our love and join you in your sorrow.
Gail and Mike Nelson
So very sorry for your loss Jackie and Herb
Joe was a dear friend, Joe will be missed very much. We have many happy memories of Joe and family.
Dear Carol’ we love and pray for you all.From one sailor to another rest peace my ship mate
Carol and family – what a beautiful obit for Joe!
I enjoyed reading about his early upbringings.
The time Bob and I got to meet you two at the USS AEOLUS reunions through the years are precious memories.
Joyce Luttrell
Joe was a man everyone liked. RIP my friend.
RIP to you Mr. Jesso! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family that I was a part of! God bless you and your family!❤️
RIP Mr. Jesso. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! God bless you and your family!
Sending heartfelt condolences to the Jesso family.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your husband and father, and my thoughts and prayers go out for your whole family. I was a classmate of Jo-Ann’s at North Reading High School.
What a wonderful tribute for Joe’s life. He is missed by so many. And will not beforgoten AVeyr special person..Love to all the Jesso family and extended family and friends lovingly Carol Beal
Dear Carol and Family, much love to you all. So many years, so many memories we have of Joe and your family. We always loved him and I think he was a special friend of Bills. Those guys always had such a good time together, snowmobiling, getting together at Johns for a guys night out. He will be missed. Love,
Ronnie
Only knew Joe through the Aeolus gatherings, but enjoyed his stories. May God bless and keep you and your family.
I met Joe many years ago. My Dad worked for Charlie Wedge and knew all the wedge family.I can remember the day I met him in NR,standing tall in his cowboy hat w/ Carol.I kept trying to hook-up w/ him when he worked at Palmer Gas Co. in Atkinson.,NH.I saw him one day working w/ a customer and we made eye contact and I believe he recognized me.He was busy working w/ a customer he kept on working ! Big man w/ a big heart !So sorry Carol for your loss !Big John Croswell will take great care of you and your family .
Sandy and I will miss Joe very much. We met Joe and Carol a little more than a year ago and became good friends with them when we moved into Emerson Village. Our condolences to Carol and all the family! R.I.P. Joe!
Carol,Jodi,Jan,Jackie, Jeri. So sorry to her of Joes passing. It’s been a long time, but Joe always had a special part of my heart, as you all do. He was such a great person to chat with❤️ You tribute was very touching, he’s proud of you all.
Carol and Family, I am so sorry to hear of Joe’s passing….It has been years since I have seen you folks. Walter and Florence Carpenter were my parents, Charlie and Peggy were my godparents. I was wondering where you moved away to! Again I am very sorry for the loss of Joe.
Sorry for your loss Carol
I don’t know you I’m so sorry to hear about your husband passing he is now resting in peace may god be with you and your family you are all in my prays always remember the good times you had with him
Carol and Girls, I love the obituary, What an awesome tribute. Joe’s probable up there shaking his head, saying “you guys over did it”. He was such a humble Man. I still can’t believe he is gone. I hope to see you in Sept. That is so special that you are having his memorial on his 80th birthday. Hugs from SD.
Carol, I don’t know whether you remember me. I grew up on the other end of Mount Vernon Street, and was two years behind you in school.
I was so sorry to read of your husband’s passing. I’m glad you have such a lovely family to support you in this difficult time. Know that you’re all in my prayers.
Virginia McNeil Slep