Jessie Branon

Jessie Pauline Branon, 87, of 3202 South 12th Street, Marshalltown, died Wednesday evening, June 27th, at the Southridge Nursing and Rehab Center where she has resided this past week. Funeral services and a celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 2nd, at the New Hope Christian Church with Pastor Kerry Jech officiating. She will be laid to rest in the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home from 6-8:00 p.m. on Sunday. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Jessie and her family. Ph 641-844-1234.Born Jessie Pauline Kirk on June 7th, 1920, at the family home at New Providence, she was one of two daughters born to John Pierson and Sarah Elizabeth (Reece) Kirk. At the age of one, her family moved south of Union, and at age five, west of Union. She graduated from the Union High School at age 16. While in school, she played in the band (baritone horn), a competition sextet band, basketball (guard) and sang in the glee club. On February 16th, 1941, she was united in marriage to Albert Branon. In the fall of the following year, he was drafted into the service in WWII. When her husband was sent to Mineral Springs, Texas for boot camp, she followed and was employed in a soda fountain and for a Lieutenants family. She came back to Iowa when Al went to California and later joined him in Salinas, CA. Mrs. Branon was employed at Lennox Industries in the advertising and publications department. She went to Dallas with the corporate transfer and later moved back to Marshalltown upon her retirement. She attended the New Hope Christian Church and will be fondly remembered as a loving mother and grandmother who was very family oriented, enjoyed crosswords, crocheting, going to craft shows and her home. Left to celebrate her life are her daughters: Patti Ralf of Marshalltown, Margaret (Dave) Zeiner of Marshalltown and Judy Andrade of El Paso, Texas, seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren (and one on the way), her only sister Ruth Altemeier of Marshalltown and a host of friends. In death she has rejoined her parents and her husband Albert who died on June 17th, 1976 and a grandson, Todd Wagner.