Jesse Arthur McIntyre, Jr., passed away on September 13, 2012 in Shenandoah, Iowa. Jesse was the son of Jesse A. McIntyre, Sr., and Flora Elizabeth McMahon McIntyre. He was born on January 23, 1919. Jesse married Irene LaVonne Watkins on May 18, 1942 at the Presbyterian Church in Tarkio, Missouri. Irene, Jesse's wife of 62 years, passed away in May 2004. He is survived by his three daughters, Star Ann Kloberdanz (and her husband, Ed Kloberdanz) of Shenandoah, Janell McIntyre of Shenandoah, and Amelia McIntyre of Kansas City, Missouri. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Mark, Matthew (his partner Adrienne Hart), Amy and Luke(his wife Letha) Kloberdanz, David (his wife Kristy) and John (his wife Teri) York, and Andrew and Benjamin Carlson; ten great-grandchildren, Ryan and Haley Kloberdanz, Conan, Dane and Brogan Kloberdanz, Ayla Fern Hart, Katie and Bryan York, and Savanna and Conner York. He is also survived by his sister and her husband, Patricia and Willie Johnson of Red Oak.
Jesse graduated from Tarkio College June 3, 1941, with a business degree. On June 18, 1941, he went into the Air Force, where he obtained the rank of Major. He was discharged March 1946. After his military service, Jesse went to auction school at Creston, Iowa. Jesse spent six decades as an auctioneer and Realtor in Southwest Iowa and Northwest Missouri. In addition, he farmed in Fremont County, Iowa, and had a lifelong appreciation for the demands of farming.
Jesse received the Meritorious Service to 4-H Award in 1955, the Alumni Award in 1968, the Honorary 4-H pin in 1973, and was inducted in the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in 2004. Jesse received the Outstanding Service to Agriculture award from the Shenandoah Chamber of Commerce in 1990 and the Small Businessman of the Year award from Southwest Iowa SCORE in 1995.
Private graveside services were held at the Farragut Cemetery.
Jesse always said that 4-H had been good to him. The family is honoring his belief by requesting memorials be made to the Iowa 4-H Foundation, designating the Jesse A. and Irene W. McIntyre Scholarship Fund and sent to 117 South Elm Street, Shenandoah, Iowa 51601.