Jean’s early days were spent in a small country school until she attended Chase County High School, where she not only graduated in 1962, but met Chuck, who would eventually become her lifelong partner. Her life on the farm was active, spending countless hours surrounded by family, including 31 first cousins, most of whom lived in Chase County.
At Nebraska Wesleyan University, Jean was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. She and Chuck were married on June 28, 1964, a bond that lasted 62 years. Their first few years of marriage were spent in Lincoln before moving back to Imperial where their daughters were born. They lived in a Bureau House, moved a house to 633 Grant Street, and then to the house her parents built on Shopp Drive.
Jean devoted herself to her family, home, and local community. Beyond caring for her daughters, sewing matching outfits, volunteering, and sharing her passion for cooking that she inherited from her own mother, she remained deeply involved in Eastern Star, Jaycees, and worked in the office at the Chase County Hospital. In 1979, she and Chuck bought and managed the local grocery store, Imperial Super Foods, an effort Jean helped lead until her retirement in 2002. After her parents passed, Jean managed Newman Land & Cattle for ten years.
In 2006, Jean was recognized for 50 years of membership in the Imperial United Methodist Church. Jean and Chuck each served as Youth Leaders, while she also served her church community in numerous ways. She became a member of Faith United Methodist Church on January 11, 2025.
Jean’s four grandchildren were her greatest joy, and she could often be seen with Chuck cheering them on in their activities and life events. She cherished being able to travel to Lincoln to see Carlie and Alex Jaeger, and to Chattanooga and Kansas City to visit Adam and Ryan Moline.
Jean is survived by her husband, Chuck; daughters Jill (Brad) Moline of Imperial and Kim (Destry) Jaeger of Lincoln; four grandchildren, Adam (Macy) Moline of Kansas City, MO, Ryan (Hyeonju) Moline of Savage, MN, Alex (Torri) Jaeger and Carlie (Brian) Najera of Lincoln; great-grandchildren Tate Jaeger, Marley Jean Moline, and Jones Najera. She is also survived by her sister, Georgia Whitcomb of Hudson, WI; nephews and nieces Owen Swanson, Mark Swanson, Lane Whitcomb, Lisa (Whitcomb) Denny and Joanie (Whitcomb) Rumpeltes and special neighbor boys Silas, Samual and Sutton Burke.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Services for Jean will be held on Saturday, August 1st, at 11:00 a.m. Central Time at Roper and Sons South Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Drive (40th & Yankee Hill), Lincoln, NE. The service will be available to livestream, starting at 10:50 a.m. CT on roperandsons.com.
Memorials can be considered for either the Chase County Community Hospital, Chase County Founding Forward (formerly the Freedoms Foundation) or Faith United Methodist Church.