James Donnell Jessen

WEST GARDINER – James Donnell Jessen, 90, died on Sept. 15, 2023 at his home. He was born on Feb. 2, 1933, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Marjorie and Raymond Jessen

James was a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy as a Naval aviator for 22 years. he flew the P2-V, principally, and the C-130 during the Korean and Viet Nam Wars. James was stationed in Argentia, Newfoundland, Thule, Greenland, Pensacola Naval Air Station and Brunswick Naval Air Station in addition to other locales.

He graduated from Fort Dodge High School, Iowa, graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in industrial education, as well as from the University of Maine with a B.S. in business administration. Jim taught high school industrial arts in Bound Brook, N.J. Jim settled in Maine and worked for the towns of Brunswick and Casco/New Gloucester and the City of Westbrook in the field of municipal assessing. He was the deputy Assessor in Brunswick and town/city Assessor in Casco/New Gloucester and Westbrook. He was also a residential real estate broker for a time. He Retired 1994

Jim loved aviation, flying and automobiles. He owned an MG-TF, a Triumph TR4A and a Mazda Miata. He enjoyed visiting the Owl’s Head Transportation Museum where he volunteered his time working/repairing/restoring old cars. He was a charter member of the T-Party Times, a club of MG enthusiasts, and he was a member of the Downeast Sports Car Club. As a child, he built soap box cars and competed in soap box derbies.

Jim loved music and played the tuba beginning in junior high school. As a young man, he played in the Fort Dodge Municipal Band and the Karl King Municipal Band. He also played for the Portland Community Orchestra and the Bath Municipal Band. He was also a member of The German Band, a local band from Maine that played traditional German music. He also enjoyed playing at the annual L.L. Bean Tuba Christmas in Freeport.

He was a talented woodworker and worked in the cabinet shop at the old N.T. Fox lumber yard in Portland in the 1960’s

In his earlier life, Jim raised and showed Boxer dogs and raised one champion, Greta Hall’s Anastasia. Later on, he enjoyed many years with his beloved Boxer Spanner.

Jim was an avid reader and a lover of architecture.

He is survived by his wife Jean; son Tony of Freeport, Maine, daughter Jennifer Constable of Frederick, Md.; brother Tom of Newton, Iowa; and six grandchildren.

Services and burial will be private.

Arrangements are under the care of Kincer Funeral Home, 130 Pleasant St., Richmond, ME 04357

In lieu of flowers,

a donation to:

http://www.theboxerrescue.org would be a lovely way to remember his life