Jesse Peckham

Jesse Peckham 89 of Bristol died on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at Sanford Hospital in Webster. His funeral will be at 2:00 P.M. Monday, November 24, 2014 at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Bristol, Diane Hoines will officiate. Burial will be in Bristol Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Sunday 5-7 P.M. and prior to services on Monday at the church. Jesse Vernon Peckham was born to Emma (Olsen) and Ray Peckham on January 17, 1925 on a farm southwest of Lily, South Dakota. He was baptized at Our Saviors Lutheran Church near Crocker and confirmed at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Bristol. When he was five years old, the family moved to the Crandall hills northwest of Crocker, where the family raised cattle, horses and farmed. Later, the family moved to a farm southwest of Bristol in Valley Township, where Jesse lived until he graduated from Bristol High School in 1943. He then joined the WW II allies in Japan as a truck driver for the US Army. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal. Upon returning from war, Jesse farmed southeast of Andover. On October 14, 1950 he married Donna McKittrick at Bergen Lutheran Church north of Bristol. To this union, three children were born. In 1959, Jesse and Donna proudly purchased their farm southeast of Pierpont in Union Township where they lived, farmed and raised their family until they moved to Bristol in 1988. On March 15, 1994 Donna passed away and Jesse continued to live in their Bristol residence until his death. Jesse was an active member of Bethesda Lutheran Church in Bristol where he served on the church council and other capacities. He served on the Union Township board in Pierpont and the Sun Dial Manor board in Bristol. He was a member of the Bristol VFW and the American Legion. As an avid Minnesota Twins fan, he treasured his visit to Target Field in its opening season. Freedom, Family and Farm were Jesse’s sources of pride. As a member of the “Greatest Generation”, Jesse was one of the Honor Flight veterans able to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C. He attended sporting events of all his grandchildren and treasured his visits to Seattle and Eagle River to visit his children. A farmer never retires, and prior to his passing, he spent one last harvest helping move equipment and visiting the fields he had so much pride in. Jesse’s final harvest will be one of his families’ greatest memories. Jesse passed away peacefully at Sanford hospital in Webster on Thursday, November 20th at the age of 89 years, 10 months and 3 days. He is survived by his children Vickie (Brent) Zimmerman of Bristol, SD, Rebecca (Brian Saucke) Jefferson of Eagle River, WI, and Douglas Peckham of Seattle, WA, six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one sister Marjorie Peckham of Webster, SD, and special nephew, Dary (Deb) Peckham of Bristol, SD. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his brother, Clayton, and sisters, Ferne, and Virginia, and one grandson, Jeremy Jefferson.