Jesse Francis Shull

MASON CITY: Jesse Francis Shull, 84, of Mason City, died on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M., on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at the First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia, with Rev. Jim Stiles officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Sheffield Hillside Cemetery in Sheffield with Military Honors performed by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Memorials may be directed to the Jesse Shull memorial fund.

Jesse Francis Shull was the third of five children. He was born on July 20, 1924 to Jesse Franklin and Annetta (Deshler) Shull on a farm in the small community of Glen Elder in West Central Kansas.

His mother wanted him named after his father but did not want him to be called junior so she chose the second name of Francis instead of his fathers middle name of Franklin. He was called Francis by all who knew him.

The Shull family moved to Iowa in March, 1933, to a farm south of Dougherty and this was home to Jesse Francis until December 14, 1942, at which time he enlisted in the Navy. Because our country was at war at that time, his enlistment was for the duration of WWII. When Francis was honorably discharged, he returned to his parents home, which at that time was in Sheffield. His father was no longer farming as his three sons had enlisted and he had sustained an auger injury which incapacitated him. Since farming was the only occupation Francis knew, his transition from the military to civilian life necessitated a change in his occupation and as the urging of a local painter, he became an interior/exterior decorator. He worked for and with several painters until his apprentice period was over and started his own business in 1970. Francis retired in 2000 after 52 years due to ill health.

In 1952, Francis married Jeanne Thurston and they had 56 years of beautiful memories to share with each other. They were both avid golfers and enjoyed many years of circuit husband/wife tournaments in the surrounding territory. Francis was a member of the First United Methodist Church and enjoyed being a Christian and a part of the church family.

He leaves to mourn in his passing from this life his beloved wife, Jeanne Shull of Mason City; one sister: Doris Imerman of Newell, IA; one sister-in-law: Dorothy Brouwer and husband Duane of Iowa Falls, IA; many nieces and nephews; grand nieces and nephews, great grand nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends, all of which he loved dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Richard (Margie) Shull and Lowell (Lucille) Shull; one sister: Joyce Bosma (Alfred James).

Memorials:
Memorials may be directed to the Jesse Shull memorial fund.

Cemetery:
Sheffield Hillside Cemetery in Sheffield

Visitation:
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Service:
10:00 A.M., on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at the First United Methodist Church