Jean A. GILLIGAN

GILLIGAN, OROURKE, CUNNINGHAM, MOORE, PARKER, HAFERMAN, BEEBE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/22/2008 at 09:49:01

11/18/2008
Belmond Independent, Iowa

Jean A. Gilligan, 81, Chanhassen, MN, died November 14, 2008 at Auburn Manor in Chaska. Mass of Christian Burial was held November 18 at St. Hubert Catholic Community in Chanhassen. Burial will be at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Britt.

Jean was born July 6, 1927 in Kanawha, the daughter of Leo P. and Edna L. (O'Rourke) Gilligan. She grew up in the Kanawha and Belmond area where she worked in her parent's movie theaters. She graduated from Belmond High School where she was active in the band. After graduation Jean attended St. Catherine's College in the Twin Cities. After two years she left for California and worked as an X-ray technician at Oakland County Hospital. She developed a blood disease and was sent back to Iowa. Jean recovered and enrolled at the Brown Institute and studied broadcasting. She was one of the first women in radio and TV in the late 40's and early 50's, starting in radio at Grand Forks. Then she went to Austin where she wrote for radio station KAUS and had her own afternoon TV show on KMMT-TV. Jean returned to the Twin Cities and worked for radio stations WPBC and KRSI. Jean left broadcasting and was a partner in a venture to start a helicopter sight-seeing business at Hoover Dam. She and her partner took a helicopter on a flatbed truck to Arizona to set up the business. One trip up and over the dam, with all the cables and other obstructions, and they decided it wasn't a good idea. She worked for Munsingwear for 15 years where she was a advertising and production manager. Then she worked as office manager for a small publishing company and later worked in direct marketing for a printing company. Recent years found her in declining health. Music and writing were always part of her life. She wrote many songs, poems and short stories.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; and cousins Pat Cunningham, Marlys Moore and Robert O'Rourke. She is survived by cousins Bill Parker of Colorado and Lois Haferman of Iowa; godsons Patrick O'Rourke of South Carolina and Shawn Parker of Nebraska; and caregiver and friend of 37 years Ruby Beebe.