Denise Jeske’s Obituary by Susan Jeske

Denise Jeske, age 91, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2017.

Denise was born May 30, 1926 in Fort Saskatchewan, Canada, she was the daughter of Pierre Amede’e (Eh me dee) Moret (More aye) and Marie Bibiane (Beh bee anne) Moret.

In between these two dates was a life lived to the fullest.

EARLY YEARS
Denise grew up in Fort Saskatchewan, Canada with her parents, older brother Louis and sister Dorene. Her father was the Mayor of the town for over 10 years and served as the Fire Chief and Alderman. Her family owned the Fort Hardware Store, John Deere Dealership and a Tin Smith Shop where Denise and her brother worked and her mother was the book keeper. Weekends her family volunteered at the mission where Franciscan Priests would come to town and give Mass. The family would organize the Rectory, Louis would play the organ and Denise was the Choir Leader and sacristan for the Franciscan Fathers.

While attending the University of Alberta in Canada, studying Education, Denise was crowned ESS Queen (Engineer Students’ Society Queen) on November 9, 1946 at the ninth annual Engineers Ball with over 500 people in attendance. Her fame of beauty and charm spread far and wide. She even became a pin-up glamour girl for the British Army in Egypt.

A WOMAN BEFORE HER TIME
Denise held many different jobs in a time when most women stayed at home.

• Teller for the Royal Bank of Canada
• Worked at Sprague Drug Store
• Airline Stewardess for a DC-3 airplane with the Canadian Pacific Airline
• Elizabeth Arden Representative
• Professional Model for such clients as The Hudson Bay Company, Woodward’s Stores (Edmonton) Limited, Thompson-Dyne’s Store and Holt Renfrew where she purchased her wedding gown.
• Owned her own modeling agency and school called “The Edmonton Julliard School of Modeling”.

LOVE OF HER LIFE
In 1953, Denise and her family traveled to Europe for a 4-month vacation. They traveled to Europe onboard the RMS Queen Mary along with their car. It was on this ship that she met the love of her life, Charles H. Jeske, a decorated American World War ll Veteran from Chicago, Illinois. Charles had just converted to Catholicism and was on a solo pilgrimage to visit Lourdes in France. It was love at first sight and 3-days later he asked her to marry him. At first, she turned him down saying, “You Americans are all alike” and to prove his love, he followed her around Europe: France, Switzerland, back to France, Italy, Dover, London, Liverpool, St. Laurence, Quebec City, and Chicago.

While traveling in Europe, the Moret family was given a private audience with Pope Pius Xll, on June 2, 1953, because of the work they did for the Franciscan Fathers in Fort Saskatchewan, Canada. They went onto visit relatives in Switzerland where her father, Pierre, was born.

The next year Denise and Charles were married on June 26, 1954 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada at St. Joachlim’s Church and the reception was held at The Glengarry Club. They honeymooned in Banff, Alberta, Canada en-route to Chicago, Illinois, USA where they would live for two years before moving to Colorado. They moved to Colorado so that her husband could take a job with Univac Computing as a Systems Analyst and he worked on the first commercial computer which is on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.

FAMILY
Together they had 5 children: Mark, Cathy, Tim, Mike and Susan whom they raised and devoted the rest of their lives to. She was a proud grandmother to 5 grandchildren Megan, Dustin, Bradley, Andrew, Melissa and Anna. She loved and supported each and all their passions. She and her husband attended virtually every game, production, pageant, play, musical, ceremony and family event.

An amazing cook, Denise was known for her festive Thanksgiving Dinners and Christmas Eve Lasagna. Some of her own famous recipe dishes were Meatloaf, Date Cake, Pumpkin Chiffon Pie, Raw Apple Cake with Philadelphia Cream Cheese Frosting, Zucchini Bread, Oatmeal Cookies, Walnut Slice, Fudge Cake, Sheppard’s Pie, Crab Apple Jelly from our trees, and her annual Christmas Banana Bread to give as presents to neighbors and friends.  

She was actively engaged with the Catholic Church and her community. She believed in service to others which included fundraising for St. Mary’s Parish, cleaning the church every week, and was a member of the Booster Club. She was also a fundraiser for various athletics that her sons were involved with.

One of her favorite hobbies was arts and crafts. She loved making ceramics and was an expert with gold spray paint. She was best known for her large Coulter pine cone Christmas decorations which she made for her home and sold at various stores.

Denise was a kind, creative, funny, witty, giving, prayerful, loving woman that touched everyone she met. She was loved deeply by her family who consider her to be a role model and inspiration. We will miss her greatly.

OTHER NOTEABLE FACTS

• 1991: Became a United States Citizen at the age of 65.
• Played the piano and was a good seamstress.
• 1939: Attended the World’s Fair in New York City with her family.
• From 1966 – 1968 lived in Boise, Idaho and was on the Board of Directors for the Boise Swim and Racquet Club.
• Worked at The Complete Gourmet and Gifts in Littleton, Colorado for her next-door neighbor, Joan Dennen, for over 10 years.
• 1992: Traveled to Thailand for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 60^th Birthday Celebration with her husband and daughter Susan.  Susan organized a delegation of 12 National and International Beauty Queens, Denise and her husband were chaperones. The 2-week stay in Thailand included 42 scheduled appearances that raised over $92,000.00 for the poor children’s hospital. Featured in 50 newspapers, 10 national TV shows and 3 magazines.
• Celebrated their 40^th Wedding Anniversary at the Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado with their family.
• 2001: Attended President George W Bush Inauguration with her son and daughter Susan who was invited by the President to attend and sing the National Anthem at several events and ride in the Inaugural parade.
• Denise and Charles were married for 46 years until Charles death on November 24, 2000.
• Denise’s nephew from Canada, Father Paul Moret will be presiding at the Funeral Mass.
   

4oth Wedding Anniversary ~ Broadmore Hotel, Colorado Springs

Name:  Charles H. Jeske ~ Dad
DOB:   5-4-1922
DOD:  11-24-2000
Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois
Place of Death:  Littleton, Colorado Home ~ Surrounded by his loving family.
Funeral Mass:  November 30, 2000 ~ Officiating: Cousin Reverend Monsignor Paul Moret
Laid To Rest:  Ft. Logan National Cemetery~ Denver, Colorado

Military Service:  U.S. Air Force, 1st Lieutenant 1943-1945
Bombardier Navigator, Instructor * 860th Army Airforce * 0723.800
29 Missions over Germany ~ European Theater ~ 493 Bomb Group
CLICK HERE: Mission Report 1944-45
* Battles: Rhioeland  GO  33  WD  45  Ardennes  GO  33  WD  45
* Medals: EAME Theater Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross GO     176 3AD, Air Medal w/3 OLC Officer's Certification.

Education:   University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois ~ B.S. Business Administration/Accounting Minor 1949
Profession:  Systems Analysis & worked on the first computer which is now in the Smithsonian Museum.



Favorite Food:  Moms Cooking
Favorite Sports Team:  Denver Broncos
Greatest Achievement:  Raising 5 well adjusted successful kids.
Favortie Song:  "Strangers In The Night" & "Some Enchanted Evening."
Favorite Singers: Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, his daughter Susan & grand daughter Megan Jeske.
Favorite Dancer: Cyd Charisse & Fred Astaire.
Favorite Band: Herb Albert & the Tijuana Brass.
Favorite Car: Cadillac
Favorite Trip:  Meeting Mom & falling in love at sea on the ship Queen Mary. Very romantic!
Favorite Movies:  Tora-Tora-Tora, High Noon ~ Musicals: The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, South Pacific, Show Boat, The Kind and I & White Christmas.
Favorite Activities: Attending all of his kids activities & cheering us on no matter what we were doing. Basketball Games, Baseball Games, Cheerleading, Plays, Musicals, Pageants, etc.
Favorite Past Time: Loved dancing with Mom. Holding hands & spending all his time with Mom, his kids & grand kids.
Favorite Saying: Dad always said he loved us all equally & very proud of us. Everyone is special & unique in their own way.