MONSERUD, Jean (Schmidt) 1926-2015
SCHMIDT, JAHNKE, MONSERUD, WELCH, JACKSON, MARTIN
Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 12/3/2015 at 14:10:39
SOURCE: THE GAZETTE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa daily newspaper, Wednesday, December 2, 2015, p.13A
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)Jean A. Monserud, age 89, of Waukon, Iowa, passed away peacefully of natural causes Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be Saturday, December 5 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with the Rev. Lynn Groe officiating. Burial will be in the Monona City Cemetery in Monona, Iowa. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon or MFL Mar-Mac Community School in Monona.
Jean Ardyce Monserud was born May 12, 1926 to Herbert and Elnora (Jahnke) Schmidt on the family farm near Garnavillo in rural Clayton County, Iowa. When Jean was seven years old, her parents began farming near Waterville, Iowa. Jean graduated from the Waukon High School in 1942. She next attended Normal Training School at the Waukon Junior College and studied teacher curriculum which she completed in 1944. Jean took her first teaching position at the age of 17 at the Figgie School, a one-room school house in Allamakee County. She taught at other one-room schoolhouses in Allamakee County, including the Sixteen School in Linton township.
Jean married Wesley Monserud on April 2, 1945 at St.Paul's Lutheran Church in Garnavillo where she was baptized June 26, 1926 and confirmed March 17, 1940.
As the state of Iowa closed the one-room country schoolhouses, Jean began teaching at MFL Schools in Monona, Iowa in 1960 until her retirement in 1988. She taught first and third grade at MFL and especially enjoyed teaching mathematics. While still teaching, Jean took evening and summer courses and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1977 from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa. Mrs. Monserud was a dedicated teacher who was always thinking of creative ways to enhance lessons for her students. She especially enjoyed teaching the Native American history unit each year.
Jean and Wesley initially farmed with Wesley's parents near Harpers Ferry, Iowa. Later they moved seven miles northeast of Monona where they farmed for over 50 years. In addition to teaching, Jean was a hard-working farm wife, helping with farm work, gardening, canning, baking and raising six children. Jean was a voracious reader who loved learning. She was an enthusiastic quilter, creating quilts for each of her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed attending auctions.
After retirement in 1988, Jean and Wesley enjoyed winters in Arizona together. She loved hiking in the Arizona desert and she became an avid golfer, even getting a hole-in-one. Jean continued wintering there until 2011. Jean and Wesley were avid travelers and she visited all 50 states, as well as taking tours on six of the seven continents. Her favorite city to visit was London,England.
Jean is survived by her six children: Gary (Ann Jones) Monserud of Concord,Massachusetts, Vicki (Curt) Welch of McGregor, Iowa, Bruce Monserud of Gainesville, Florida, Clay (Adele) Monserud of Iowa City, Iowa, Patti (Dr. Terry) Jackson of Harbor Springs, Michigan, and Scott (Cindy) Monserud of Aurora, Colorado; 14 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; her brother, Herbert "Bud" (Kathy) Schmidt of Waterville, Iowa and her brother-in-law, Francis Martin of Waukon,Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Wesley in February 2000, and her sister, Janet Martin.
Clayton Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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