Carl Heinz Jessen passed away on May 8, 2022 at the age of 86. He was born to Carl and Anna Jessen on December 22, 1935 in Nordstrand, Germany. In his teen years he completed an apprenticeship in baking and soon after married his wife Gerda (Klopfer) Jessen. On March 5, 1957 he arrived in America where he moved to Woodstock, IL to take over the “Early American Bakery”. His wife and daughter Anke arrived shortly thereafter. They went on to have three additional children: Maren, Carl, and Heidi.
Carl retired from baking in 1974 and went on to drive a school bus for district 200 and the Dial-a-Ride bus for the city of Woodstock. He enjoyed square dancing, camping, traveling, and in his later years, lived part-time between Woodstock and Germany.
Carl was preceded in death by his wife Gerda (Klopfer) Jessen, his sister Gerda (Jessen) Hinrichs, his parents Carl and Anna (Thiesen) Jessen, and his son-in-laws Allan Laipple and Frank Dougherty.
Carl leaves behind his four children; Anke Dougherty, Maren Laipple, Carl (Therese) Jessen, and Heidi (Mike) Phipps, ten grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.
He will be remembered for his fierce determination, strong work ethic, delicious baked goods, and his passion for a good time.
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