Peggy Osterstrom Jessee

Peggy Jessee, beloved wife and mother, passed away at home surrounded by family on May 27, 2026. Peggy is survived by her husband, Randall; four children, Hans (Becky), Christopher, Jennifer (Jason), and Jessica (Marc); and three grandchildren, Ian, Taylor, and Elise.

Born in Kansas City in 1942, Peggy was the youngest of four children of Carl and Mildred (Wine) Osterstrom. She lost her mother in 1954 and her father in 1958. She was also preceded in death by siblings Marta Renger, Nancy Lane, and Carl “Fred” Osterstrom.

Peggy was a lifelong resident of Kansas City, Missouri, and a 1960 graduate of Westport High School (where she met her future husband, Randy, in 8th grade). After high school, she attended Washington University in St. Louis and later earned an associate’s degree from Maple Woods. Peggy married Randall Boone Jessee in 1961 and, over the next 64 years, they lived in Kansas City proper, Roosterville (near Liberty), Nashua (in KC North), and even Copenhagen, Denmark, for nine months in 1962. They welcomed their first child, Hans, in 1963, then Chris in 1967, Jenny in 1968, and Jessica in 1971. Their first grandchild, Ian, was born in 1993, followed by grandson Taylor in 1994, and granddaughter Elise in 2003. Randy and Peggy would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in August 2026.

Before retiring, Peggy worked as a secretary. She primarily worked in the hotel industry (including the Muehlebach and Marriott properties in downtown Kansas City), but also

worked at the Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City Symphony, Lintecum Architects, and Nashua Baptist Church.

Peggy enjoyed sewing, buying and selling antiques, collecting tableware and Vida Hurst romance novels, home decorating, reading, flower gardening, genealogy, and traveling (Europe, California, and Arizona). Her physical world narrowed in recent years, as she battled progressive lung disease.

She was the constant and quiet center of our family. We will hold our memories close -- her loving commitment to her kids and grandkids, her enjoyment of pets, her grace and good example, her intelligence and strength, sense of humor, love of music and good movies, and her endless joy in her life’s partner. We will carry her with us, always.