Jean Fellows entered her heavenly home Friday, May 4th, 2018 at 94 years of age. Jean is survived by three children and their spouses, ten grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Jean began her remarkable life on August 18, 1923 in Pittsford, Michigan, the third daughter born to her parents, James and Gail Freeman.
Their small farm did not succeed so the family moved back to the south side of Chicago where a large and supportive extended family resided. Jean accompanied her mom to work where their mom did alterations in her sister’s dress shop. Jean like to tell the story of spending two years in the kindergarten across the street from the dress shop, after her mom successfully negotiated with the teacher to let her begin school at the age of four.
After graduating from Morgan Park High School, Jean attended Wheaton College where she met James Fellows, the best friends of her roommate’s fiancé. After a year at Wheaton, Jean began her nursing education. She withdrew after about a year to marry Jim.
The city girl became a farmer’s wife in the small town of Genoa City, Wisconsin. Jean and Jim moved into the farmhouse where he grew up and shared the home with his parents Howard and Matie Fellow. The families lived harmoniously side by side for the next twenty five years.
Three children were born to Jean and Jim: Carol Faye (Clarence) Josefson, Doris Lee (Dorie) Goodnature, and Ted Howard (Susan Bergsma). Jean thrived as a homemaker and full partner on the farm- raising her family, planting and harvesting a large garden, canning and freezing the produce with her father-in-law, and helping Jim in the barn. Life centered on the farm, the ministry of Berean Grace Church, and service to “The League”, originally called the Christian League for the Handicapped, now known as Inspiration Ministries.
There Jean used her considerable cooking, baking and nursing skills at the residential home. She liked to to say she wore two hats, working both as a cook and nurse’s aide. A corn picker accident that cost Jim part of his right hand and resulted in Jim and Jean eventually selling the farm and moving to one of the apartments at The League.
Jim and Jean shared forty-three years together before he died from complications of Parkinson’s disease in August of 1986. Jean spent the last seventeen years of her life living with her son Ted and his family in Ohio. She became an integral part of the family and also Ted’s church, the Berean Bible Church, originally in Minerva, now of Louisville, OH.
Jean lived a life of service to her family, church, neighbors, friends and most of all to her Savior, the Lord Jesus. She was loved and respected by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Jean was a tireless worker, creative seamstress, knitter and needle worker, superlative baker, skilled artist, swimmer, and just plain fun to be around.
Family and friends enjoyed her embroidered pillowcases, beautiful note cards, delicious cinnamon rolls, persistent positive attitude and delightful sense of humor. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 28, 2018 at the Berean Grace Church, N665 Hwy B, Genoa City, WI at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial made be to Berean Grace Church.
For online guestbook; haaselockwoodfhs.com.
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