Herbert Henry Jesse

Herbert Henry Jesse, 95, of Lakewood, Colorado passed away on Friday, February 21, 2025. He was born to the late Bert and Mary Jesse on June 24, 1929 in Alliance, Nebraska. The family moved to Sunrise, Wyoming, a company-owned iron ore mining town. Bert and Mary had four children, Herbert, Bernard, and twins Marvin and Margaret Ann. When his mother was due to deliver the twins, she sent Herb to her mother, Margaret (Lackey) Yeager’s house in Alliance, Nebraska to stay. He was there for a year or so and completed kindergarten there, before returning to Sunrise when his mother felt she was able to care for all four kids. They lived in a small two-bedroom, company row house until Herbert was seven or eight years old. He attended first and second grade in Sunrise.

Herbert’s father, Bert was a miner and was badly hurt in a mining accident. CF & I compensated Bert for the loss of an eye and his other injuries. This allowed the family to be able to afford to buy some land between Sunrise and Guernsey and to build a ranch on it. While living on the ranch, Herbert attended school in Guernsey, Wyoming. After high school, he joined the Navy and served for four years during the Korean War on the U.S.S. Grand Canyon.

Herbert moved to Colorado where he met Betty Darrow. They married and had a son, John. Then a second child was on the way, but due to complications, shortly after childbirth, Betty passed away and so did the new baby girl, Martha Elizabeth.

Some time later, Herb started attending some church dances where he met Pauline Hergott. They married on September 8, 1958 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gilead, NE, where she was from. Soon after they had twin girls, Julie and Janet, then a boy Brian, and another girl Pamela. Together they raised their five children.

Herbert was a Firefighter for the majority of his career, and he also worked for a gentleman roofing houses as a side job. Herb was an avid reader and always had a book in his hand when he had free time. Mom bought a piano for the family and Dad learned how to play and got quite good. He loved playing minuets and ragtime. He loved being outdoors and would bring his kids hiking, exploring, fishing, camping and boating. When they grew up and moved out he continued hiking and exploring on his own, mostly areas in Colorado and Nevada until he was in his 70’s.

Herbert was preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Mary, by his siblings, Bernard, Margaret Ann, and Marvin, by his wife Betty and their daughter Martha Elizabeth, by his wife Pauline and their daughter Janet Marie and her husband Scott, and by his grandson, Jason.

Herbert is survived by four of his children, John Jesse (wife Paula) of Littleton, CO, Julie Brill of Overton, NV, Brian Jesse of Highlands Ranch, CO and Pamela Chavez (husband Carl) of Lakewood, CO. He is also survived by ten grandchildren (Silas, Abigail, Nathaniel, Jessica, Marissa, Jenna, Julia, Nicolette, Janelle, and Lauren) and eleven great-grandchildren (Mya, Elijah, Kayla, Eva, and Eva’s sister still in utero, Shay, Bash. Scotty, Claire, Foxley and Josiah). He is also survived by his sister-in-law’s Cecile Jesse and Beverly Hergott and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held on Monday March 17 at Light of the World Catholic Church in Littleton, CO.

Rosary 10:00, Mass 10:30, Reception lunch 11:15, Military Burial at Fort Logan 1:30.