Blanche Thiessen

Blanche M. Thiessen, 89, of Jackson passed away Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home, where she briefly resided after falling and having been diagnosed with cancer.

She was born March 26, 1921, in Dallas to William and Mary Kelly Crook. She and Carl D. Thiessen were married Dec. 24, 1941, in Corpus Christi, Texas. They were married nearly 60 years when Carl passed away May 20, 2001.

Blanche and Carl had a wonderful life and a true love affair. They worked together their entire careers. First was Braniff Airways in Texas, where Carl was a radio operator and Blanche a part-time flight attendant. Then, relocating from Texas to Hartley, Iowa, they established Thiessen Food Lockers. Their next endeavor was building custom homes together in the Sioux City, Iowa, area, and they concluded their active careers with a commercial carpet cleaning business. They moved to Jackson in 2000 to be near their daughter and son-in-law.

The Thiessens each became one of Jehovah's witnesses in 1952, and were both loyal and passionate workers for the kingdom. Blanche was an accomplished seamstress, and in earlier years she made artistic custom greeting cards. She also enjoyed baking and will be remembered for sharing homemade bread, apple cake and biscotti with her many friends.

Loving survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Allen Jennings of Jackson; their family, Heath (Heather) Jennings and children Colton and Ava of Jackson, Brandon (Jennifer) Jennings and children Claire and Camellia Blanche of Festus, Mo., Heather (Brandon) Laszewski of Jackson; and her son, Steven A. Thiessen.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Karla Marie May; a brother, William "Butch" Crook; and her parents.

Friends may call from 1 p.m. to time of service Saturday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1150 S. Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau. This is also known as the "South Congregation" and is next to the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Kingdom Hall, with Gerald Cox officiating. Interment will be private in Russell Heights Cemetery.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Kingdom Hall.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.