Jean (Keenan) WURSTER

WURSTER, KEENAN, ELLIOTT, HALL, HENDERSON, SIVERLY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:01

October 24, 1925 --- December 17, 2012

Jean Keenan Wurster was born October 24, 1925 to Gladys and Rue Keenan at the family home near Maloy, Iowa. She had five siblings, Lee, Dorothy, Virginia, Robert and Karl. Jean graduated from Maloy high school in 1942. She worked in the grocery store in Blockton, Iowa saving her wages so she could attend college in Maryville, Missouri.

Jean earned her teaching certificate and began teaching in Lenox, Iowa. There she met her life’s companion, Karl Wurster. Jean and Karl were married on December 20, 1947 at the Methodist church in Creston, Iowa. Jean and Karl lived in many communities throughout Iowa and later retired in Mountain Home, Arkansas in 1987. Each new place they lived, they made life-long friends. Jean taught school for 37 years. She earned her master of science in elementary education from Northwest Missouri College and was nominated for the Iowa Teacher of the Year award.

Jean and Karl loved to travel. They had many happy times visiting relatives and friends all across the United States. They often invited members of their family to go along with them.

She loved having her nieces and nephews come and stay for a summer visit. Each one left feeling like they were someone very special.

Reading was Jean’s passion. She taught hundreds of children to learn to read during her teaching career. She also helped instill the love of reading in three generations of nieces and nephews by always giving wonderful picture books for Christmas presents and their birthdays.

Jean (Keenan) Wurster, 87, passed away on Monday, December 17, 2012 at the Clearview Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa. Preceding Jean in death were her father, Rue Keenan; her mother, Gladys Elliott Keenan; her brothers, Lee and Bob; her sister, Dorothy Hall; brothers-in-law, Glen Henderson and Beryl Hall, and sister-in-law, Betty Keenan. Left to cherish memories of Jean are her husband, Karl Wurster of Clearview Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa; her sister, Virginia Siverly and husband Fred of Clearfield, Iowa; her brother, Karl Keenan and wife Donna of Boliver, Missouri; her sisters-in-law, Maxine Henderson of Lenox, Iowa and Sheryl Keenan of Waukee, Iowa, and her many nieces, nephews and friends.

A memorial fund has been established to the Clearfield Public Library. Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr was in charge of the arrangements. Services were conducted at the United Methodist Church in Clearfield on Wednesday, December 19, 2012, with Rev. Shurmaine McAlpine officiating. Musicians included Lynn Baker and Samantha Hornback. Casket bearers included Ken Siverly, Ron Brown, Lewis Larson, Will Larson, Greg Mobley and Brian Mobley. Burial was in the West Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.

Mount Ayr Record News -- Mount Ayr, Iowa
January 9, 2013

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[Jean and Karl Wurster lived in Belmond, Wright County, Iowa where Karl worked for the telephone company and Jean taught school. While living in Belmond, Karl retired and Jean continued teaching.] ]