Edward Arno Jess Obituary

Edward Arno Jess attended Menomonie High School in Menomonie, WI. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Edward Arno Jess.

Graduation Year	Class of 1968
Date of Passing	Dec 28, 2010
About	Edward Arno Jess, "Mr. Walmart", 61, of Eau Claire, passed away on December 28, 2010, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire. Edward was born November 25, 1949, to Arno and Olive Jess. His family had a dairy farm in Menomonie and Ed lived and worked on the farm until going to college at UW-Eau Claire. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He acquired his real estate broker's license and began purchasing and renting out apartment buildings in Madison. Ed later returned to Eau Claire to be near family. Ed worked as a Wal-Mart greeter for the past thirteen years. He was, rightfully, very proud of this and worked very faithfully at his job, earning the title "Mr. Wal-Mart" used to describe him by several customers. He was very loyal to Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart has been very loyal to him. He acquired many friends among co-workers and with the thousands of people that he greeted every day. Misfortune struck Ed this year in the form of a very aggressive Lymphoma and his battle ended December 28, 2010. Ed and his family were very grateful to the people who have watched over and befriended Ed over the years and sent cards and gifts in these last few months, and those who visited him in the hospital during his numerous stays at Sacred Heart. We are additionally grateful for the wonderful people at Sacred Heart's Cancer Center who treated Ed like family and made his last few months very pleasant despite the punches and pokes and indignities that accompany chemotherapy. Ed was in band in high school and as a member of a musical family never lost his love of music. He was a regular attendee of the Ludington Guard Band Tuesday night concerts. He loved learning and followed the news and politics, and he traveled to China and to Europe. He enjoyed tending his fish and his numerous plants. Ed is survived by his brother, Larry (Vicki); and his sister, Margaret (Fred) Breisch; his brother, Don (Marilyn); nieces, Michelle Sundstrom and Christine McCray; and seven grandnieces and grandnephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Arno and Olive Jess; and nephew, Michael Jess. Ed was a fine man who never said anything bad or unkind about anyone, and who appreciated kind words and a smile. He was truly caring towards people and viewed his role at Wal-Mart as an opportunity to brighten "even one person's day". He was generous with time and money and will be missed by many, most of all, his loving family. He viewed man's mission as accepting Jesus into his heart, and Ed was at peace. There will be a visitation from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Smith Funeral Chapel in Eau Claire, Monday, January 3rd. Funeral services will be held at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Eau Claire on Tuesday, January 4th, with visitation from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., services at 11 a.m., followed by lunch. Interment will be at the Cedar Falls Cemetery in Menomonie at 2 p.m. Donations to the American Cancer Society are encouraged in lieu of flowers.