Jean Schutz, 101, passed away January 28, 2021, at her home in Benkelman, Nebraska.
Jean was born October 2, 1919, at Orleans, Nebraska to Roy and Jessie (Hubbell) Pearson. Jean graduated from Mascot High School and then went to work in Lincoln, Nebraska for several years before being introduced to her soon-to-be husband, Norman, by his cousin Calvin. They met while he was home on leave from the army, dated for a week, corresponded for six months until he came home on his next leave and married on March 8, 1944, in Phillipsburg, Kansas. The couple made homes in several Nebraska towns and settled down in Benkelman in 1973, where they lived the rest of their lives.
Jean enjoyed camping; she and Norman spent many years as campground hosts in Nebraska and Texas. Her hobbies included baking and sewing. She was well-known for her chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter balls. Almost every member of her family is the recipient of a beloved blue jean quilt made from family members' worn out blue jeans and pieced with love. Even this past November she sewed up 32 placemats!
For Jean, everything revolved around her family to whom she was so devoted. She was always up for any card game and certainly won more than most. And never an evening went by without a glass of her favorite wine. When she asked any of her doctors about whether she should be drinking wine, they agreed that she should continue her habit - and who would argue with a 100+ year old woman about what is or isn't healthy.
Jean is survived by her children, Kathy Aerni and her husband Mel of Madrid, Nebraska, Jan Illian and her husband Doug of Denver, Colorado, Tom Schutz of Benkelman, Nebraska, and Becky Shultz of Oklahoma City, Oklahooma; 7 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; siblings Dean Pearson of Kearney, Nebraska, Janis Ledbetter of Beaver City, Nebraska, and Jim Pearson of Las Vegas, Nevada; and a sister-in-law, Ann of Los Angeles, California; a very special "son" Stan; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded by her husband, Norman; her son, David, and David's wife, Patsy.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Jean's memory for later designation.
Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com.
Private Family Graveside services will be on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at 1 p.m. CT at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska.
Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements.