ALTENHEIN, Emma "Jean" (Wilson) 1923-2020

ALTENHEIN, WILSON, TOMLINSON

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 1/25/2020 at 18:56:58

Jean Altenhein

January 27, 1923 - January 22, 2020

Emma “Jean” Altenhein, 96, passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at MercyOne/Covenant Medical Center of Waterloo, Iowa.

She was born January 27, 1923, daughter of Jarvis “Jay” and Nellie (Tomlinson) Wilson. Jean was raised in Traer graduating from Traer Community High School, then attending Gates Business College. While at Gates, she met Robert Ward Altenhein who was also from Traer, and after a whirlwind romance, the couple was married on July 18, 1942, in Liberty, MO. Bob served in the military during WWII which led to many relocations and, after his discharge, the family settled in the Cedar Valley.

In addition to running a busy household, Jean also worked as a bookkeeper for an electrician and area doctors’ offices, then, became a Realtor retiring from Century 21. She was a member of the Cedar Falls’ Women’s Club, American Legion Auxilliary and St. Timothys United Methodist Church of Cedar Falls.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; Bob, her husband of 76 years; her daughter, Patricia Floyd; grandson, Winston MacKay; brothers, Joe Wilson and Allan Ramsey Wilson; her sister, Nellie Mae Tigue; daughter-in-law, Vicky Altenhein; and son-in-law, James MacKay. She is survived by her son, Gary Altenhein of Enfield, CT; daughters, Pamela MacKay of Janesville and Penne (Brian) Nelson of Chandler, AZ; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Isabelle “Louise” Duquette of Kansas City, KS; son-in-law, Mark Floyd of Denver, CO; and her daughter-of-the-heart, Corinne (Doug) Bettis of Janesville.

Services will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Hearst Center for the Arts or the Cedar Falls Women’s Club and condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.

Jean was the “cool mom” who enjoyed her children and their friends and served as a leader for both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America. A self-taught seamstress, she sewed all of the family’s clothing except Bob’s business suits. Jean enjoyed baking and will be remembered for her tea rings and cinnamon rolls. She was an avid reader of all genres and writer of poetry and was even published in the Iowa Journal of Poetry through her involvement with the Hearst Center. Jean was happy, supportive and uplifting and enjoyed monthly lunches with her friends, “The Psychic Sisters”. She was a true lady who read all of the fashion magazines, enjoyed shopping and never left the house without applying her lipstick.

SOURCE: Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home