Meet Jens Notestein who resides in Stronghurst with his wife Amy.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Staff
Meet Jens Notestein who resides in Stronghurst with his wife Amy.
Jens was born in Keokuk, Iowa. He carried the Des Moines Register newspapers as a young boy and would read the sports before delivering his route, and became an avid Hawkeye fan. In fact, he's an all around sports fan of the Cardinals, the White Sox, the Bears as well as the Hawks.
He and Amy raised five children, Kim, Brian, Brad, Kristi, and Kathy with all but Kim graduating from Southern High School.
One day he drove through Stronghurst and stopped at Laroy Brooks' station and ended up looking over news clippings of the fame Rebels who were in the playoffs. Homes and taxes were more expensive in Burlington, and Jens decided to move his family into a large home right across from the Southern school, and signed the boys up for Rebel football. They never did see the playoffs those years, but enjoyed some mighty fine games.
As a job for his kids, Jens opened On Broadway Pizza, an instant hit with the community. He hired a boy from Godfathers Pizza to get him started and then put his kids to work. His girls did cheerleading, volleyball, track and it was a whirlwind of activities until Kathy graduated. Now Jens is retired from the Ill. Central Gulf Railroad Data Processing Dept., Homewood, IL. He really enjoys his job as Media Township Supervisor.
"It gives me just enough brain work to make me happy."
"I am so pleased to move back to Stronghurst," Jens said. "I love it here - twisting tales at the restaurant. and visiting with people you know and see each day."
Jens is a member of the Stronghurst First Christian Church, Stronghurst Lions Club, a West Central supporter, announcer at the Fresh-Soph football games, and assists Delmar with the varsity games.
His wife of 42 years, is working at Great River Medical Center as a transcriptionist and loves Stronghurst as well. They have seven grandchildren who are all close by, with their daughters living in Burlington, Brad in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and Brian living near Chicago.