Charles Jess

1944 - 2026

Charles Michael (Mike) Jess was born December 20, 1944, to Frank Augustus Jess and Jennie Ersta Jess nee' Shipley in Piqua, Ohio. He passed away Monday, February 23, 2026, at Webco Manor, surrounded by loved ones. He was the 13th of 13 children and adored his entire family his whole life. In 1962 he and his FFA teammates won the National Dairy Judging Contest in Madison, WI. Early, he loved racing cars before he settled down with Holstein cattle, horses, dogs and kids. He was especially close with his sister, Carol Ferree. They had an unbreakable bond. His sisters Mary Ellen and Vera Lou mothered Carol and Mike after their mother died in 1952. Mike was also saved by his brother Warren Eli and Warren's wife, Muriel, when they took him into their home for his senior year in high school. He was a dairy farmer from a long line of them. He spent his life trying to help others and sometimes succeeded. Mike served his community through Marshfield United Methodist Church committees and the Marshfield Board of Aldermen. Even when he lost his dairy farm in the late 70s, he continued fighting for farmers through Southwest Dairy Supply, National Farmers Organization and Southern Milk Sales. Mike was preceded in death by his loving wife, Carolyn (Didot) Jess, his parents, Frank and Jennie Ersta (Shipley) Jess, his siblings, Donald Jess, Betty (Jess) Patty, Tillie (Jess) Jones, George Jess, Warren Jess, Tom Jess, John Allen Jess, Wilbur Jess, Lowell Jess, and Vera (Jess) Selsor Maggert. Mike is survived by his son, Mark Allen Jess (Christie) of Oklahoma City, OK, his daughter, Susan (Jess) Maxwell (Joseph) of Marshfield, MO; his grandchildren, Schaefer Jess, Sadie Jess, Sophie (Jess) Neisler, Brendan Maxwell (Jesica), Kellan Maxwell (Hannah), Caroline Maxwell; his great grandchildren, Silas Maxwell, Emma Maxwell, Mason Maxwell (Brendan) and Myla Maxwell (Kellan). He is survived by two sisters, Mary Ellen (Jess) Wilson and Carolyn (Jess) Ferree (Tim), both of Piqua, OH. He is survived by, and dearly loved, a host of nieces and nephews. Some were more like siblings, as they grew up together. In his last years he came to love the folks at Webco Manor in Marshfield. Funeral services will be Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at Marshfield United Methodist Church under the direction of Fraker Funeral Home, Inc. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 3, 2026, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., at Fraker Funeral Home, Inc., Marshfield. Interment will follow services Wednesday in Marshfield Cemetery under the direction of Fraker Funeral Home, Inc. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ebenezer Cemetery Fund, Marshfield United Methodist Church, and The Well Church, Marshfield, Building Fund, and may be left in care of Fraker Funeral Home, Inc., P.O. Box 85, Marshfield, MO 65706.