Jesse R. Bell

Jesse R. Bell, 83, passed away at home surrounded by loved ones after a brief illness on Friday, April 12, 2024. Jesse was born in Winton, PA on April 21, 1940 to Beaumont and Evelyn Bell before moving to Indiana in 1952 at the age of 12. Jesse was a graduate of Anderson High School, class of 1958.

Jesse worked a brief stint at Nicholson File before becoming a dedicated member of the Anderson Police Department in 1965, while also working part time for Lee Dunn and Son Trucking. Jesse retired from the Anderson Police Dept. in 1985, when he and his wife, Brenda, moved to Longmont, Colorado where he had already secured a job at Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant. While in Colorado, Jesse became a member of the Lafayette Masonic Lodge #91 F. & A.M. He retired a second time in 1998 and shortly after, he returned to Indiana where he gained employment at Geetings Lawnmower Service before becoming a member of the Madison County Sheriff’s Dept. for a couple of years.

Jesse was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting deer and elk in Colorado with his two sons. Jesse was also an avid knife collector, traveling all over Indiana learning his craft from good friend, Frank Phelps. He also loved coaching Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball for sons, Kevin and Brad, when they were younger. He also loved gun collecting with his grandson, Bronson. Jesse didn’t miss many sports competitions that involved any of his grandchildren, between Anderson and Yorktown.

Jesse is survived by his sons, Kevin (Kimberly) Bell and Brad Bell; granddaughters, Brittany (Eric) Ciempola, Samantha (Adam) Townsend, Jesseca Bell, and Taylor (Jeff) Childress; grandsons, Nick Bell, Bronson Bell, and Beau Bell; great-grandchildren, Emma Ciempola, Gryphon Ciempola, Jace Townsend, Vivian Townsend, Kash Townsend, Benjamin White, Everleigh White, Colt Childress, and Emma Childress; brothers, George Bell and Donald Bell; and sisters, Barbara Lutton and Beverly Whiteman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Beaumont and Evelyn; wife, Brenda; brother, Beaumont Bell, Jr.; and sister, Alta Mae Rickard.

Jesse R. Bell leaves behind a legacy of professionalism, integrity, and an extreme passion for family that will be cherished by his surviving family and friends. He will be sadly missed by everyone that was fortunate enough to have known him. He had a very soft spot in his heart for all of his grandchildren.

A celebration of life for Jesse will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 3:00 PM at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Home, 515 E. 53^rd Street, Anderson, IN 46013. The visitation will be from 1:00 PM until the time of service at the funeral home. Reverend PT Morgan will be officiating. Memorial contributions in Jesse’s name may be gifted to the F.O.P. Lodge #48, PO BOX 948, Anderson, IN 46015, https://fop48.com/.

Jesse’s services have been entrusted to Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Home.