Roberta Jean (Knight) Wiant 1924-2020

WIANT, KNIGHT, FARQUHAR, PATRICK

Posted By: Barry R Huntsinger (email)
Date: 1/3/2021 at 09:21:22

Roberta "Jean" Wiant, daughter of Robert and Irma (Farquhar) Knight, was born on March 2, 1924, in Estherville, Iowa and died on December 29, 2020 at Avera Holy Family Hospital, Estherville.

She received her education in the Estherville schools, graduating in 1941. Jean attended Grinnell College for one semester before taking time off to teach 4th, 5th and 6th grades in Dolliver, Iowa for two years during WWII. She returned to Grinnell and graduated with a degree in sociology in 1947.

Jean became a social worker with Clay County, Iowa. It was there that she met her husband, Harold A. Patrick. They were united in marriage on April 11, 1948. The couple moved to Kansas City where Harold was a Boy Scout executive. He passed away in May of 1955, leaving Jean with a 5-year-old son and a baby daughter on the way.

On August 17, 1958, Jean married James A. Wiant and they, along with her two children and his four, resided in Colorado for many years. Adventures in raising the combined family brought her much joy. As Jim was also a Boy Scout executive, the Colorado years were full of Scouting events, in which Jean happily participated. She worked in the Colorado Springs school system before she eventually became the executive secretary at the Boy Scout office. Jean and Jim relocated to Estherville in 1978.

Jean was, except for the time lived in Colorado, a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church in Estherville. She at one time served as director of religious education and was an ordained elder and deacon. Jean loved her years camping, hiking and exploring the mountains. She was an avid reader, great cook, and proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Being able to live at home with her beloved pets brought her great comfort in her later years. She cherished time with family and friends.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents and both husbands, as well as stepson, Rik Wiant and son, Stephen Patrick. She is survived by her daughter, Melissa Patrick, stepchildren Jon, Sally and Jim (Kathy) Wiant, sister Peggy (Tom) Sletta, eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

(Source: Henry-Olson Funeral Home, Estherville, Iowa.)