Jeanette (Calkins) MARCHANT

MARCHANT, SCHMIDT, PIERCE, MCMAHON, CALKINS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/27/2015 at 18:16:04

August 14, 1932 --- September 23, 2015

Jeanette Marchant died in her home surrounded by family and her dog Miss Pepper. Born in 1932 in Goldfield, IA - graduated high school in Iowa Falls, IA. She attended Drake University and graduated in 1953 with majors in vocal Music and English, and a minor in education. Jeanette was married to her hometown fiancé from 1953 to 1970. They moved to St Charles, MO where she was a Music and English teacher, and had two children. She was also Director of Education and Chancel Choir Director for the Methodist Church in St Charles, MO.

Married to Lee Marchant from 1972 until 1997. Initially living in Chesterfield, MO and raised a combined family of 8 children. In Chesterfield the family lived on a farm with horses, dogs and cats. Jeanette worked in her husband's design and construction business in St Louis, MO and completed her certification requirements for a healthcare administrator's license.

In 1986 she moved to Bloomington where she worked as a corporate vice president and a healthcare administrator in two Hospitality House facilities. She loved living in Bloomington, where she supported the best music school in the country, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She especially loved the operas and musicals and every year sponsored one performance at the IU auditorium. She was actively involved in all aspects of the music school, where she provided scholarships as well as sponsoring soloists. In addition to her love of music, she also loved sports and most especially the IU men's basketball program. She established a scholarship in memory of her mother - Velma Calkins.

She was very active in the Bloomington community and the First United Methodist Church, where she sang in the Chancel Choir for more than 20 years. Several of the community social service projects she was active include: Middle Way House, Habitat for Humanity, and the Shalom Community Center.

She served on several community and Indiana University boards, including Friends of Music, IU Theater Circle, IU Auditorium Circle of Friends, and the Monroe County History Center. She served on the founding committee for Indiana University's Colloquium for Women. She was a member of Chi Omega Sorority, Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity, Chapter AE of PEO, Pi Kappa Lambda (the Music Scholastic Honorary Fraternity), Inter Se, Sorosis, Wednesday Club, and Women's Club. She loved gardening, nature, bird watching, music and her beloved dogs. Her greatest joy were her children, 14 grand children and 4 great grand children.

She is survived by Greg Marchant of Bloomington, IN, Megan Schmidt (Jim) of St Louis, MO, Kathy Pierce (Deborah) of St Louis MO, Eric Marchant of Tampa FL, Brett Marchant (Kim) of St Louis, MO and Mara McMahon (Suzanne) of Cranford, NJ and brother Kent Calkins (Brigette) of Weaverville, CA. Preceded in death by her parents and sons Kevin Pierce and Scott Marchant.

Memorial Service will be held Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 1PM at the IU Auditorium (1211 E 7th Street), Rev Jimmy Moore officiating. Friends may visit the family an hour before the service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the IU Jacobs School of Music, 205 South Jordan Ave, Bloomington IN. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory 4155 South Old State Road 37 is handling the arrangements.

http://www.allenfuneralhome.org/obituaries/jeanette-marchant.aspx