Dolores "Jeanne" Esser

Dolores “Jeanne” Esser, age 94, of Howard, formerly of Canova, passed away on Monday, July 18, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society in Howard. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Friday, July 22, 2022, at St. Agatha Catholic Church in Howard with burial to follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Howard. Visitation will be 5-7 PM, Thursday, July 21, 2022, at the church with a Scripture Service at 7.

Jeanne was born in Sioux Falls, on May 27, 1928, to Frank and Mahrie (Hazleton) Gillen. Jeanne attended Franklin and Whittier School and graduated from Sioux Falls Washington High School in 1946. Jeanne attended the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. Jeanne then worked at the telephone company in Minneapolis for two years. Jeanne met Martin Esser at a wedding dance in Howard and they were united in marriage on February 1, 1954. In 1959, they bought a farm west of Canova where they raised their family, livestock, and crops until retirement in 1992, when they moved into Howard.

Some of Jeanne’s hobbies included sewing, decorating cakes, dancing, golfing, water aerobics, crocheting and reading.

Those grateful for having shared in her life include her children  Linda (Loren) Koepsell of Sioux Falls, Dan (Carla) Esser, Leanne (Cory) Eich, Dean (Darcy) Esser, and David (Barb) Esser all of Canova; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren and 2 step great-grandchildren.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband Martin (2019); her parents; a brother Dale Gillen; and one granddaughter Allison Koepsell.  

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