Jessie Ervin Wells Emery, of Mabel, passed away on January 12, 2021, at the age of 91 years old. He was born January 25, 1929, to John and Vera Conklin Emery in rural Winneshiek County.
He attended rural schools around Bluffton, Iowa. He was inducted into the Army on January 24, 1951, served as military police and was honorably discharged on July 19, 1956. He was married to the love of his life, Phyllis Larson, on January 30, 1954, at Mabel First Lutheran Church. He did construction work and was a farmer until 2017, retiring at the age of 89. Jessie was a member of the Mabel First Lutheran Church and a member American Legion Club Post 299 of Mabel, Minn. He loved spending time with family, hunting and farming and had a passion for anything Allis Chalmers.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Phyllis; four children: Jackie Emery, Jessica (Charlie) Arnold, Carol (Scott) Raines, and Phillip (DeAnn) Emery; seven grandchildren: Jesse (Jessica) Matthews, Leah Matthews, Beth Hardinger, Shelly and Robert Raines, Kyle and Eric Emery; seven great-grandchildren: Grace, Jessie Allen, Lauren, Avery, Hannah, Leila and Teegan. He is also survived by two sisters, Nell Jane Ewing and Beverly Berg; numerous nieces and nephews, and daycare “grandkids” who called him Grandpa.
He was preceded in death by his siblings Tom, Raymond, Lenora Salinger, Dean, Roger, Arland, Betty Guhl and JoAnn Emery.
The funeral took place at Mabel First Lutheran Church, Saturday, January 16, 2021, at 1 p.m. Visitation was from 12–1 p.m. The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel assisted with arrangements.