Jessica Renea Matschke Jantzen

Jessica Renea Matschke Jantzen was born on March 30, 1979, in Brighton, Colorado, to Carl and Barbara Matschke. She grew up on her family’s farm outside Seibert, Colorado, where she attended Hi-Plains Elementary and High School. A gifted student, Jessie served as Homecoming Queen, President of her local FFA Chapter, and Valedictorian of her graduating class.

She went on to study at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where she formed lifelong friendships with Cara, James, Drew, and Lorray, and later attended Lamar Community College to pursue Veterinary Science. Though she did not complete veterinary school, her deep love for animals remained a constant in her life, and she was a devoted mother to her beloved pets Worm, Poundcake, Lucy, Millie, Maeve, Scout, and Ginny Weasley. A free spirit, Jessie lived in many places before settling in Loveland, Colorado.

In 2010 she met the love of her life, Jeff Jantzen, and they married on September 8, 2012. Together they shared a passion for travel, adventurous cuisine, and live music, building a life that celebrated those joys. Jessie was deeply close to her siblings Larry, Earl, and Anna. After the deaths of her parents—Carl in 1992 and Barbara in 2011—and later the losses of her brothers Larry in 2013 and Earl in 2015, she and Anna became inseparable best friends, supporting each other with a wordless understanding and quiet strength.

Jessie had a gift for caring for others. A talented chef who fulfilled her dream by graduating from the Art Institute of Colorado in June 2017, she expressed her love through food—hosting gatherings, preparing meals for Chefs for Seniors, running a successful catering company with Jeff, organizing Chopped-style cooking competitions, and delivering homemade pizzas to those in need. She found equal delight in games, music, and creativity, whether competing at trivia nights with her team the Walking Braindead, playing Dungeons & Dragons and Mario Party with friends, enjoying cozy evenings with Animal Crossing, battling at Scrabble, writing songs, playing clarinet, or performing as the lead singer of her band Dodez Hutch. Her signature song, “Ingenious Squirrel,” captured her clever spirit, zest for life, and remarkable resilience.

Jessie passed away on March 7, 2026. She is survived by her husband Jeff Jantzen; her sister Anna Matschke and partner Alex Morse; her father-in-law Loren Jantzen; her brother-in-law Alan Jantzen and wife Jackie; her niece Tori Thorson and partner Dylan Beekman; her nephew Austin Matschke; her grand-nephew Everett Beekman; her sister-in-law Teresa Thorson; her stepfather Gene Duvall; and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, mother-in-law Fay Jantzen, brothers Larry and Earl, nephew Devan Matschke, and many other cherished family members.