Jeanne M. Thiessen, 84, died peacefully on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. Funeral Mass: 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 1, 2011, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Rev. Christopher Podhajsky. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. today (Thursday) at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a vigil service at 6 p.m. Burial: Coggon Cemetery, Coggon, Iowa. Jeanne was born May 5, 1927, near Prairieburg, Iowa, the daughter of John and Mary Casey McDonell. She attended high school at Mt. Mercy Academy in Cedar Rapids and then attended Clarke College for three years and graduated from the University of Iowa with a teaching degree. Jeanne taught in area schools for 25 years. On June 20, 1975, she married Marvin Thiessen in Cedar Rapids. He preceded her in death in 1981. Jeanne was a foster parent to many children with disabilities. She was a longtime member of Immaculate Conception Church in Cedar Rapids. She is survived by her brother, Richard (Jo Ann) McDonell, of Wenatchee, Washington; her sister, Helen (Kenny) Barker, of Coggon; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, John Jr. in WW II and Ronald McDonell; and two sisters, Vera Houlahan and Doris Zalesky. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Mercy or Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids.
Dear Jean… You are my best friend, and I will allways love you and allways will. Jean said this to me as she was in the hospital in her last days i a said it back to her. She left to early. But i know shes up in heaven and wont ever leave me. She was a big influence on me, she was allways postive and sweet. She was a land lady as well. She let people live in her home who needed a place to call home. Jean you may be gone but you defitly will not be forgoten. Will see if decemeber 21 2011 comes to the worlds end, i wish you were here with me to see that day we allways talked about in the mornings why watching history channel or fox news. God bless you Jean. “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world” that was Jeans favorite prayer chaplet of divine mercy. You will still be with me in my heart i can still fill your loving energy and sweet voice.
ps Pa loves you!
I am Jean Owens’ sister and am so sorry to learn of Jeanne’s passing. I knew her for years through Jean and knew Marve as well. Jean and her had many good times together and remained close.
May God Bless and help you through these trying days.
Sincerely,
Janis Owens
We love you and thank you
for adding to our lives.
Now you have the best of everything something that is
so well deserved to our Jeanne.