Jessie C. Apel

Jessie Apel devoted her life to her family, and her role as a daughter, wife, mother, grandma, and great-grandma was her "full-time job." With her familiar smile and her compassionate ways, Jessie formed many close relationships. She was always the life of the party, and each day she tried to share her happiness with the many people she loved. With the victorious end to the Great War, thousands of young soldiers returned back home to their civilian lives. The stock market climbed toward new heights, and industry flourished to meet the new demands of a peacetime nation. Amid this climate of good fortune, William Hart and his wife Letitia (Johnston) Hart discovered another reason to celebrate. They were expecting a child, and on August 24, 1919 they were blessed with the healthy birth of their daughter Jessie. Jessie was born in Glasglow, Scotland where she spent the first five years of her life. Her father provided for the family through his job as a cabinet and furniture maker. After the family emigrated to the United States and settled in Croton, New York, he continued to work as a carpenter. In fact, he built the family house in New York, and Jessie helped out by carrying rocks. Family was everything to Jessie. The elder of two children, she grew up with the close companionship of her sister Agnes. At Croton Harmon High School, Jessie easily formed many close friendships. She and her friends often sat together in the bleachers at baseball and basketball games. Jessie graduated with the class of 1936. Jessie met the love of her life at a church youth group in Brooklyn, New York. His name was Clint Apel. They began dating around the time that the Second World War broke out, and soon they fell in love. On April 25, 1942 Jessie and Clint were married. Shortly after the wedding, Clint was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent overseas. He spent four long years in the Army. He and Jessie maintained their optimistic spirits by placing their faith in the Lord. At the end of the war Clint returned home safely, concluding the first chapter of a loving marriage that would last sixty-four wonderful years. Jessie and Clint were blessed with two children, Craig and Liz. As a mother and homemaker, Jessie truly was a gift from God. Though she sometimes disciplined her children, she always acted with great love and compassion. In the summertime, she and Clint would take the kids out to Camp-of-the-Woods in Upstate New York. Many of her fondest memories involve the times that they spent together at picnics. Jessie raised her children within the Christian faith, and it was extremely important that her kids and grandkids all love their Lord and Savior. Both of her children are now involved in full-time ministry. Jessie was known for her deep sense of compassion. She was always embracing the less fortunate. She volunteered at the Cerebral Palsy Center, belonged to Gideon's International Bible Society and was an active member of the Berean Church. In the time that she devoted to her own hobbies, Jessie enjoyed gardening, baking, finding seashells on the beach, attending or throwing parties, and traveling. Over the years Jessie provided her family with many memories that they will continue to treasure. Jessie was always full of life, and she possessed a charisma that endeared her to many. When she was in her seventies, she jumped into a swimming pool fully clothed on a dare. At her daughter's wedding rehearsal dinner, she started a food fight that caused the entire room to howl with laughter. She once flew half-way across the country to surprise her daughter by arriving at her baby shower. Her granddaughter inherited Jessie's jokester genes: she would occasionally call Grandma Jessie pretending to be a Chinese restaurant telemarketer or a long lost friend who she had never heard of. On a road trip through Washington State, Jessie hid her face in her hands while the car drove up a steep mountain road. She would always squeal if you grabbed the back of her neck. Whenever she talked to someone from Scotland, her childhood accent returned - and if she heard bagpipes, she would start to cry. She composed poems for all occasions, and she brought the Word of the Lord into the lives of her grandchildren as well. She taught them how to pray. Jessie was blessed with a long life full of many wonderful moments. Her greatest day was when she placed her trust fully in Christ as her Lord and Savior. The second greatest was her marriage to Clint, and the third greatest was the births of each of their children. Jessie was the happiest when she was with her family, and in their company a familiar smile always brimmed over her lips. Among the many people whose hearts she touched, Jessie will be greatly missed and frequently remembered. Jessie died on Saturday, May 27, 2006. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, H. Clinton Apel; 1 son, Pastor Craig (Pat) Apel of Spring Lake; 1 daughter, Liz (Pastor John) Eklund of Pomfret Center, CT; 8 grandchildren, Tricia (David) Whittaker of Grand Rapids, Rebecca (Chad) Zuber of Sumbawanga, Tanzania, Nathan Apel of Grand Rapids, Jessica (Ben) Hall of Putnam, CT, Bethany Eklund of Pomfret Center, CT, Kirk Eklund of Grand Rapids, Charis Eklund & Makenzie Eklund of Pomfret Center, CT; 8 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; 1 sister, Agnes Henderson. The Service for Jessie will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2006, 11:00 AM, at the Berean Church, with Pastor Craig Apel & Pastor John Eklund officiating. The Visitation will take place on Wednesday 3-5 & 7-9 PM, at the Clock Funeral Home. Please visit Jessie's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory, sign the guestbook, or post a memorial contribution to Tanzania Orphans Scholarship c/o Grace Ministries International, 1011 Aldon St., Grand Rapid, MI.