Jean Heibult, age 73 of Ashton, IA died Thursday, March 6, 2014 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 10th at Lyon County First Presbyterian Church of rural George, IA, with Rev. Paul Fischer officiating. Burial will follow at the Lyon County First Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, March 9th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home of George.
Full obituary and online registry can be found at www.jurrensfuneralhome.com
Jean was born on the family farm at rural Ashton, IA on March 14, 1940 to Herman and Frances (Arends) Heibult. She attended grade school at Dale Township #1 country school. She graduated from George High School in 1957. She then helped on the family farm for several years before going to college to pursue teaching. Jean received her Bachelor’s Degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, and her Master’s Degree from North Dakota State University in Fargo. After graduating from college she taught school at Lake Mills, Iowa and Ruthven, Iowa for a total of 30 years.
After retirement Jean volunteered at the Ashton Public Library and the DeBoer Grocery Museum in Ashton. Several of Jean’s hobbies related to her love of science and teaching — launching model rockets, flying kites, and observing the weather conditions. Jean enjoyed having a garden and canning and freezing her crops. Jean was an avid stamp collector. She enjoyed researching family history and genealogy, and she loved to read.
Jean took several trips to Germany and maintained a special relationship with the family descendants in Germany. Jean took great pride in her nieces and nephews and treated them like they were her own children. She was a good visitor and loved to stay in touch with many people both in person and by email. Jean was a lifelong member of Lyon County 1st Presbyterian Church where she served in many capacities including Sunday School teacher and Vacation Bible School teacher. Her church family was very important to her.
Jean leaves the following to honor her memory: brother Franklin (Margaret) Heibult of Sheldon, IA, sister Margaret (Walter) Vust of Little Rock, IA. Many nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces, cousins, and many other family and friends.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents Herman and Frances (Arends) Heibult, sister Florence, brother-in-law Alvin Tholen, brother-in-law Elmer Brunk, and infant brother Wilmer Heibult.
