Jean Iris Zehr, 89, went to be with her Lord and Savior on February 23, 2019 at the Great River Hospice House. She was born July 4, 1929 to Rolland and Minnie (White) Bolen in Leaf River, IL. On February 14, 1948 Jean married Paul Frey in German Valley, IL.
Together they had 2 daughters (Diane and Debra) and then Paul passed away as a result of a farming accident November 4, 1958. Jean later married Austin Zehr, having 2 daughters of his own (Sharon and Stephanie), on November 9, 1960 in German Valley, IL. Austin later passed away on April 10, 1992 of cancer.
After they married, Jean and her 2 daughters moved to Keota, IA where Austin and his daughters resided. Together, they had 3 more children – Austin, Arnold, and Mary. After Austin passed, Jean remained there until moving to Mediapolis, IA in 2001 and eventually to Burlington, moving in with Arnold and his wife, Loni, in October 2018.
Jean was a stay-at-home mom until 1968 when she started driving school bus for Keota Community School District and did that for 7 years. She also worked at Maplewood Manor Nursing Home in Keota for 29 ½ years, retiring in 2001. She loved being outdoors, gardening, farming, traveling, quilting, sewing, and being with family.
Her family was her joy. Jean was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church in Burlington, IA and one of her favorite things to do was to help serve the cookies during Vacation Bible School. She was also a former member of Prairie Flower Baptist Church in Washington, IA.
Jean is survived by her children Diane (Terry) Septer of Lockridge, IA; Sharon Jeter of Iowa City, IA; Stephanie (Dennis) Whitlock of Coralville, IA; son-in-law Michael Goodwin; daughter-in-law Laura Zehr of Mediapolis, IA; Arnold (Loni) Zehr of Burlington, IA; Mary Zehr of Toulon, IL; grandchildren Swen (Kelly) Larson, Ryan (Jessie) Morris-Jeter, Jenni (John Barry) Jeter, Sonja (Ben) Hawbaker, Stacy Ryan (May) Jones, Sacha (Nick) Francisco, Meghan Goodwin, Meredith Goodwin, Nicole (Josiah) Nihart, Misty Zehr, Austin Zehr III; great-grandchildren Will, Drew, Haley, Sage, Iris, Ingrid, Carlin, Nora, Zac, Lincoln (Trent), Paul (Elise), Brennyn, Sara, Alyssa, Teft, Easton, Bowen, Henry, Oakley, Theron; great great-children Jaiden, MaKenna, Brexton, and Graecyn; brother, Don (Doris) Bolen of Freeport, IL; sister, Vicki (Jim) Warner of Lynchburg, VA; and sister-in-law, Kate Bolen of Rockford, IL. Jean is preceded in death by her infant sister Patricia Bolen, brother Norland Bolen, husband Paul Frey, husband Austin Zehr, Sr., daughter Debra (Frey) Goodwin, son Austin Zehr II, son-in-law Dennis Jeter, infant grandchildren Angela Septer and Matthew Goodwin, and great grandson Nathaniel Hawbaker. Visitation will be from noon until 7:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Friday, March 1, 2019 at Calvary Baptist Church.
The funeral service for Mrs. Zehr will be 10:00 AM, Saturday, March 2, 2019 at Calvary Baptist Church with Rev. Simeon Counterman officiating. A time of food and fellowship will be held at Calvary Baptist Church following the service.
Burial will be in Lower Deer Creek Cemetery. A memorial has been established for the Great River Hospice House.
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