Obituary of Jessie Pelham Traulsen

None Jessie Traulsen (age 89) passed away, surrounded by her family, in her home in Lacey, WA on August 16, 2010. Jessie was born on Nov. 8, 1920 in Bradley Beach, New Jersey to Jesse and Adeline Pelham. She attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, where she received her BA in 1941 and her MS in Zoology in 1943. She married Horace Traulsen in 1942 while they were both in Graduate School. Jessie lived most of her life overseas in Haiti, China, Philippines and in Sabah, Malaysia where she was co-owner of KARITO Enterprises for 45 yrs. She then retired to Lacey, Washington 16 years ago. In Malaysia, she was an active member of the Rotary International Inner Wheel. She had an insatiable zest for learning and was particularly interested in current events, world issues and learning more about other cultures. Her calm acceptance of human and cultural differences and frailties was an example to all who knew and loved her. Jessie was preceded in death by her husband, Horace and is survived by her three sons, Carl; Thomas and Richard Traulsen; daughter, Carol Service; daughters-in-law and son-in-law; 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. A memorial celebration of her life will be held at 2 P.M. on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 4300 Carpenter Rd. SE, Lacey, WA 98503. A reception, at the church, will follow. Family suggests Memorial donations in her name to Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 4300 Carpenter Rd. SE, Lacey, WA 98503 or to the Smithsonian Institution at www.si.edu\. You may leave your fond memories of Jessie and condolences for the family by clicking on the "view guestbook" link below.