JEAN LINDSTROM

Jean Fariss Lindstrom died peacefully in the spa at Evergreen Nursing Home, Oshkosh, December 31, 2010. She was 93. Jean was devoted to her son Eric, Appleton, and her special treasure, grand-daughter Claire, a senior at UW-Eau Claire. She cherished her Cherry Meadows hospice family Judy Simon, Franny Kilgas and CNA Renee Sielaff as well as her fifty year friend Helen Gunderson Becker, Appleton. Jean is also survived by her youngest brother David (Doris) Fariss, Delaware; sister-in-law Jean Ann Fariss, Gainesville, Florida; 7 nephews and 3 nieces. Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Jack (4-7-08); eldest brother Grant Bud Fariss; sister-in-law Ruth Bacon Fariss; brother Fred Fariss; father Willis Grant Fariss; mother Myrtle Taylor Fariss; niece Andrea Fariss Litterer; and nephew Will Fariss. Jean was born April 13, 1917 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada as World War I came to an end. Her Papa had been sent from Chicago to install the first phone systems in that part of North America. Downers Grove, IL became Jeans home town for the next twenty years. She met Jack during high school and church events. Jean loved her grandmother Taylor who lived under the same roof and taught her piano and dance. Jean danced at the famous Aragon Ballroom and many others in Chicagoland in the era of big band and swing. Jean loved golf and, through her dad, became an accomplished player. In 1941 Jean set out for San Francisco finding work as bank examiner staff. She was married one week when Pearl Harbor was attacked. There were blackouts every night. She worked the USO Canteen while Jack built ships at Kaiser Steel. Both became part of the WWII greatest generation. Her son Eric was born there. Jean moved often with Jacks engineering career but lived the most in Appleton, WI: a dozen years in the fifties/sixties and 25 years after retirement. She was active in the Memorial Presbyterian Church Auxiliary in the sixties and the Royal Arch Masons Auxiliary and Shrine Club Auxiliary in the eighties. Jean was a masterful and prolific knitter for forty years, making many hats, scarves, sweaters and afghans. Her signature pieces were pairs of snowflake mittens. Jean held education in high regard and made sure her son got the chance to finish college when she did not. She was a bug on correct grammar, writing and speech. She also held her citizenship dear, voting in local, state and national elections until 2008. Jean had incredible memory over decades in detail. In the last five years before nursing homes, she spent many phone calls with nephew John Fariss helping him construct their family tree. She was proud of her Scotch-Irish heritage. Jean will be remembered as a modest and humble lady who always put others first. Memorial service will be Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 4:00 P.M. at WESTGOR FUNERAL HOME, 205 W. Doty Ave, Neenah, 920-722-7151. Visitation will be 2:00 P.M. " 4:00 P.M. at the funeral home Wednesday. Jeans family wishes to thank Chaplain Jordan Kuczwara, staff of Cherry Meadows Hospice, Appleton and Evergreen Nursing Home, Oshkosh for their loving care of Jean in her last three years of life. Please make memorial gifts directly to: Evergreen Community 1130 Westfield St. Oshkosh, WI 54902 Or Theda Care at home Box 469 Neenah, WI 54956