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In Memory

Vern Douglas Jessup - Class Of 1941 VIEW PROFILE

Vern Douglas Jessup

Vern Douglas Jessup

June 21, 1923    -    Nov. 18, 2011


NOTRE DAME - Vern Douglas Jessup, 88, passed away peacefully November 18, 2011 after a year-long struggle with lung cancer. Vern was residing at Schubert Villas at Holy Cross Village, Notre Dame, IN. His sons, Scott and David, daughter-in-law Janet, and granddaughters Kerry Jessup and Lauren Jessup were with him at the time of his passing.

Vern was born in South Bend, IN to John and Bessie (Biggs) Jessup on June 21, 1923. The youngest of four boys, Vern attended Studebaker Elementary School and graduated from Riley High School. His older brother, Maurice, had legitimately earned the nickname "Red", so the very red-headed Vern became known as "Little Red". Vern excelled in sports and participated in basketball, tennis, track and gymnastics while at Riley. Vern was an accomplished golfer and enjoyed playing with the "old guys" at Knollwood Country Club in recent years.

Vern entered the Army in 1943. After basic training, he applied and was accepted into the Army Air Corps. He began flight training school at Galesburg, IL. Vern fully expected to wash out of flight training at each step in the program. His underestimation of his considerable abilities was a life-long trait. Despite his doubts, Vern passed the increasingly demanding tests and tasks to become a B25 pilot. He was selected to a squadron charged with developing new bombing techniques to correct inaccuracies in existing methods. He was honorably discharged as a Flight Officer in 1945.

On October 11, 1946, eight months after meeting Esther Marie Collins, the two were married in South Bend. For over 64 years, and not until Esther's passing on March 27, 2011, they remained devoted to each other. Vern was Esther's constant companion and care taker as she bravely battled Parkinson's Disease the last years of her life.

In addition to Esther, Vern was preceded by his brothers, Jack and Maurice, and is survived by Eugene of Neenah, WI. Vern is also survived by his sons, Doug (Judy) of Manakin-Sabot, VA, David of South Bend, IN and Scott (Janet) of South Bend, IN. He was also the proud and loving grandfather of eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

In 1961, in partnership with Norm Ernsberger, Vern co-founded Capitol Tool in South Bend. Over the next twenty three years, Norm and Vern and a talented team of committed employees built Capitol into one of the premier tool, die and special machine companies in the Midwest. Vern's success story mirrored many of his generation and he never considered himself anything but very, very lucky. But, his success was not given, nor was it the result of luck. Vern earned every measure of the success he enjoyed through honesty, hard work, risks taken, sacrifices made and promises kept. In 1984, Capitol Technologies was sold to a Chicago-based investor enabling Vern to spend the last part of his life totally committed to Esther and his family. His lasting legacy to his grandchildren will be the example he provided in loving and caring for Esther through good times and bad, until death did them part. They are now reunited in a love that surpasses even that which they enjoyed on earth.

Contributions in memory of Vern may be made to either: Holy Cross Village, Assisted Living, 54515 State Road 933 North, Notre Dame, IN 46556 or The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637. The family would like to thank the many friends and health care professionals who provided support to Esther and Vern during this most difficult year. In particular, we are grateful to the staff at Holy Cross Village, Schubert Villas, Senior Helpers and the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care who provided Vern and the Jessup family with wonderful care and emotional support. A private family celebration of Vern and Esther's lives will be held at a to-be-determined future date. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.

Vern D. Jessup



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