Jessie (DeJong) Taken, 26 Jun 1935 - 07 Oct 2024

TAKEN, DEJONG, DEKOK, ALDRIDGE, CRITZ, ALDERMAN, OWEN, MIROUX, DUFFY, JOHNSON, JENKINS, SIMPSON, IRONS, TRIMPE, LAWSON, JENKINS

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 10/11/2024 at 14:21:51

Jessie Taken, 89, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died October 7, 2024. A visitation will be held from 4 - 7 p.m. on October 18, 2024, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on October 19, 2024, at Stonebridge Church, 1829 Stoney Point Road SW, Cedar Rapids. Burial: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website tribute page for Jessie, under “photos and videos or media,” starting at 11 a.m. on October 19.

Jessie was born to Jake and Anna (DeKok) DeJong on June 26, 1935, in Boone, Iowa. She was married to Darel G. Taken, Sr. on May 30, 1952, and divorced in June of 2005. Jessie worked for Wilson Foods/Farmstead Foods for 35 years until Farmstead closed in 1990. Jessie continued to keep Local P-3 Retirees going with several other members until after the 2006 flood in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She worked numerous jobs to support herself and her granddaughter. Jessie finally retired her Iron Maiden status in 2022.

Jessie loved her life along with friends and family. The Mississippi home in North Buena Vista, Iowa was a favorite place to be as long as the boat could be filled with family to catch the biggest fish. She loved sitting on her deck and having visitors share laughs with a beer or margarita. Her favorite time was Friday night after a long week of work and a short drive to sit and listen to the night sounds of the creek that ran in front of the cabin. Football games were a fun fall activity along with slow rides down the Mississippi watching the ever-changing colors of the trees.

Survivors include two daughters and one son, Connie Aldridge of Stonewood, West Virginia, Darel G. Taken Jr. of Iowa City, Iowa, and Deborah Critz (Steve) of Pleasant Hill, Iowa; two sisters, Mary Alderman of Marion, Iowa, Virginia Owen of White, South Dakota; seven grandchildren, Kelsey (Kyle) Miroux of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Steve Duffy (Stacy) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jason Duffy (Samantha) of Amana, Iowa, Blue Aldridge (Angela) of Waterford, Wisconsin, Jessie (Kurt) Aldridge Johnson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Marsha (Joel) Jenkins of Altoona, Iowa and Kyle Critz (Amanda) of Altoona, Iowa; 17 great-grandchildren, Brenan, Quin, Ethan, Maddy, Drew and Destiny Duffy, Ciera Simpson, Tyler Irons, Taylor Trimpe, Caitlyn Lawson, Trevor Jenkins, Lucas and Lincoln Critz, Logan Johnson, Abby Johnson, Bennett Miroux and Ryder Aldridge; five great-great-grandchildren, Theo, Lucian, Oliver, Esther and Carsen Duffy; and special friends, Paul (Cindy) Ludovissy, Denny (Joan) Bernard, Bob (Jan) Greany and Bill (Peggy) Ginter.

Preceded in death by her son, Steven Ray Taken; parents; brothers, Sam, John, and Edward DeJong; sisters, Caroline, Liz, Janette and Rena; and brother-in-law, Everette Alderman.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Mercy.

Published in The Gazette on October 8, 2024.