Jenny Bassett, 89, Boone County, Iowa
We celebrate the life of Jenny Bassett, who passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by family, at the age of 89.
Jenny lived a life centered on family, hard work, friendship, and finding joy in everyday moments. Jenny and Fritz were married for 70 years. Building a life together, raising their 3 kids, managing the family farm, and taking every opportunity to play as hard as they worked. When asked what the secret to a long marriage was, Jenny always replied that she didn’t believe in divorce but murder, maybe.
After graduating from Ames High School in 1954, Jenny worked at Mutual Benefit in Ames, where she formed friendships that lasted throughout her life. She later worked at and retired from the Seed Lab in Napier, Iowa.
Alongside her other jobs, Jenny played an essential role in helping Fritz manage the family farm, handling the accounting and business side of things well into her 80s. She was the steady force that kept both the farm and the family organized and running. If something needed to be found, remembered, or balanced, chances were Jenny already had it taken care of.
Jenny enjoyed bus trips with her lifelong friend, Connie Hardin, and with friends she met during her years at Mutual Benefit. One of those friends, Marilyn, Jenny liked to tease; she was still friends with her, even though Marilyn had introduced her to Fritz at a high school basketball game in 1954.
Jenny loved gardening, canning, crocheting, and the many fishing trips with Fritz to Bill and Irene’s cabin in Canada.
Jenny was known for her practical nature, quiet generosity, strong work ethic, and salty sense of humor.
She leaves behind a family who will miss her deeply.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Harley and Hazel Cheville; brother, Harly Cheville Jr.; grandsons, Alexander Bassett and Nicholas Bassett; and great-grandsons, Robby Bassett, Isiah Bausman, and Booker Bausman.
Jenny is survived by her husband, Fritz Bassett; sister, Kathy Ashburn; sons, Bill (Roxanne) Bassett and Vick (Ann) Bassett; daughter, Connie (Lance) Benton; grandchildren: Michael (Jacky) Bassett, Lisa (Ben) Adams, Heather Bassett, Samantha (Alex) Bausman, and Danielle Hadaway; great-grandchildren Kristen, Lilee, Gracie, Margaux, Cassandra, and Nathaniel; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home in Boone. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery East of Luther following the funeral service. Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 pm. on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Nicholas Bassett Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home, 609 7th Street, Boone is assisting the family with these arrangements.
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