Jeanne Painter

Jeanne Phyllis Stratton (Miller) Painter was the fourth child born to Glen and Rose (Jensen) Stratton in Story County, Iowa on January 12th, 1927. She graduated from Milford Township High School in 1943. After graduation she worked for the Ankeny Munitions Plant. Most of her successful business career she was employed by Connecticut General Insurance (Cigna) Company.

Jeanne was a woman of great faith and an influence to those around her especially her nieces and nephews. She was a long time member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in downtown Des Moines.

On December 28, 1946 she married Loyd “Doc” Jewel Miller in Nevada, IA. They spent their early married years in Chicago before moving to Des Moines in 1958. Soon after, they adopted his niece, Mary Miller. Doc passed away March 13, 1961.

With her marriage to Richard “Dick” E. Painter on November 6, l964, she moved to New Bern, North Carolina. Living on the Atlantic Ocean, she worked for a yacht company and enjoyed the beaches and riding in her convertible. With Dick’s retirement from the Marine Corp, they moved to Independence, MO. Here her love for President Harry Truman was nourished.

She returned to Des Moines and continued working for Cigna. Toward the end of her business career she planned Quarter Century events in Chicago. In retirement she volunteered in several different locations where she was a recipient of several awards. She was proud of her Danish heritage and was able to spend Christmas in Denmark in 1994.

Jeanne was a baseball fan. While living in Chicago she was a Cubs fan and when Independence became her home she cheered on the Kansas City Royals. That is where her loyalty stayed.

She is survived by her daughter; Mary (Denny) Lynn, two grandchildren; Craig and Theresa and a great granddaughter, Tierney. Also three nephews and five nieces and cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, a sister; Garnett (Dick) Morris, and two brothers; Arthur (Lois) and Galen (Fritz) (Lois), and a nephew; Glen Ray Morris.

Services will be held Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 600 6th Ave, Des Moines. Family will begin greeting friends at 9:00 am with funeral to start at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Nevada Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com.

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