Carolyn Jean Haskins

Jean Haskins, 85, of Urbandale, IA passed away on November 5, 2013. Carolyn Jean Gault Haskins was born in Washington County Hospital, Washington, Iowa, to her parents Caroline and Charlie Gault of Washington. Surviving are her daughter, Carolyn Ann Haskins Miller and fiancé, John Capasso of Naples, FL; grandchildren, Nathan (Jamie) Miller of Wisconsin, Braden Miller, Jeremy, Dustin (Chelsie), Evan and Nicole Getta, all of Iowa; great-granddaughters, Felise Miller and Alexis Getta; sister-in-law, Pat (Dan) Cornwell of Madison, WI; and several nieces and nephews. Predeceasing Jean were her husband, Richard E. (Dick) Haskins; her parents; sister, Ina Belle Gerot; her daughter, Janet Getta; and her son in infancy, Michael Haskins.

Shortly after Jean was born, her mother was found to have an advanced case of tuberculosis, and her mother spent almost eight years recovering in Oakdale Sanitarium. Until her mother was able to return home, Jean and her sister Ina Belle were reared by their maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jurgen Koehler on their farm near Washington.

Jean did well in school, and upon graduation from Washington High, was supported by her parents to attend one year as a student at American Institute of Business (AIB) in Des Moines. Jean then obtained employment with Interstate Assurance Company as a bookkeeping machine operator.

On July 17, 1947, she met her husband Dick on a blind date. In a year they were engaged, and were married exactly two years from the date they met, at the Methodist Church in Washington. Jean continued with Interstate Assurance until her husband Dick graduated from Drake Law School and was admitted to the Bar. He had worked part time for Employers Mutual Casualty Company during all of his years in school, and continued with EMC as an adjuster. In November 1951 they moved to Charles City, IA into his northeast Iowa territory so he could be home nights. Jean was employed at the City Hall while they lived there. In the fall of 1952, Dick joined D.C. Knupp & Sons in Vinton, IA. Their daughter Carolyn Ann was born in December.

Mr. Knupp died in late 1953 and the business was sold. Dick returned to EMC in 1954 and handled a territory around Vinton. Daughter Janet Patricia was born in 1956, and in June 1957 son Michael was born. They lost Michael after a few weeks to a fatal heart defect. In 1958 EMC promoted Dick to Des Moines as a claim supervisor and Dick and Jean bought their first house in the Debra Heights area.

Jean joined a sorority, a bridge club, served as head of the local election board, enjoyed gardening and flower arranging, and helped her daughters in their activities. When they were graduating and moving on to college at Iowa U., Jean returned to work for Interstate Assurance and other insurance companies; and served as House Clerk during two sessions of the Iowa Legislature. She and Dick had become avid campers and his work increasingly required travel; they pulled their pop-up camper and camped on many of his required trips. They visited Mexico, Canada, the British Isles, and eventually every state but Idaho. As Dick’s retirement trip, they toured Germany and the Alps. Jean was a loving spouse and mother, performing ably in spite of the growing distraction of mental aberrations that resisted treatment. Grandchildren, six of them, became her interest and her passion, and two great-granddaughters blessed the 61 years of the union of Jean and Dick before the Grim Reaper called. Jean was adored by all and will be sorely missed. This tribute was written by Richard Haskins in honor of his wife before his death.

Jean spent her final years at Senior Suites of Urbandale where she made many friends and the caring staff became like a second family to her. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. at Hamilton's on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA. Visitation will follow.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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