Jean I. Hensley
October 30, 2017
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Service Details
Jean I. Hensley
Des Moines
Jean Hensley passed away at Kavanagh Hospice House on October 30, 2017. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles in 2011 after 66 years of marriage.
Jean was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1926. Her parents (Keller and Anita Stamy) operated a small general store in Harbine, Nebraska until the mid-1930’s when the depression forced the store to close. Her father, then landed a job as a railroad inspector and the family moved to Des Moines. Jean became a proud graduate of East High School in 1943 and remained involved with her classmates her entire life.
After graduation Jean’s family moved to Waterloo, Iowa where Jean worked briefly as a reporter for the Waterloo Courier. After the war her high school sweetheart (Charles) returned from the Navy and they married in Des Moines in 1945. Jean worked for 27 years in the North High School Counselor’s office until her retirement in 1988.
Jean has three surviving children: son, Steve Hensley (Christine), daughters Jane Ivanovich (Stephen), Karen Anderson (Pete) and 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
We will remember Jean as a loving mother, with a sharp wit, a great sense of humor and that special sense of kindness and compassion we all relied upon through the various ups and downs of life. Jean loved big band music (especially Glenn Miller), a vodka martini and read voraciously her whole life. A long time Anglophile, she was able to visit England three times and often reminded us she and the Queen were the same age.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Hospice Kavanagh House, 900 56th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50312 or the Des Moines Public Library Foundation, 1000 Grand Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50309. Funeral services will be a private family gathering.
Condolences will be welcome at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
John Cacciatore and Robin Ahnen-Cacciatore
11/06/2017
Steve, Chris and the Hensley family, we're sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts.
Julie Hearn Kist
11/03/2017
I remember Jean with great fondness. As a child I would stay with Hensley's and Jean would always take the time to watch us play and talk to us over lunch or a snack. She had a wonderful sense of humor and found laughter in every situation, even when I stole Jane's Tiny Tears, or was it Jane who stole my doll?
My mother was also her greatest fan and I like to think they are together laughing and sharing old stories over a "highball".
My deepest Sympathy.
Marty Baker
11/02/2017
Steve, Jane, Karen & families so sorry for your loss. You were so lucky to have "Aunt" Jean in your lives for so long! There were always so many good times & lots of laughs, I know she will be missed.
Sharon and Dennis Goldford
11/02/2017
Steve,
You and Chris and family are in our thoughts. We're sorry for your loss.
Sharon and Dennis
Kate Anderson
11/01/2017
Ga I am going to miss you so much. I remember visiting you with my parents when I was very little. Before I would leave you would always ask if I would like to pick out a toy and of course the answer was always yes. You had a cardboard box underneath the sink in your kitchen which held any toy you could imagine. Soon it became a habit to get to pick out of the prize box. Before we would leave your house I would stand by sink waiting for you to ask the magic question, and I was never disappointed. I always wondered where you got so many toys. On these visits I loved to make you tea and different meals in my play kitchen down in your basement. Sitting there in my little play dining set of a table and chair, you would pretend to eat the fake food and tell me how great it was. It always put a smile on my face. Once it became warm outside you would walk with me to a park near your house, where a big metal slide was along with a play set. That big slide would shoot you down the long metal surface so fast you could not land on your feet. I loved these warm days. Along with the park there would always be a blowup pool in your back yard under the big tree waiting to be splashed in. My brother and I loved the blow up pool when we were younger. Some years later ga, you were introduced to a dog named Sadie and she became your companion. Each visit my mom and I would come over and sit with you on your patio playing games or just talking and enjoying the weather. I like to think that right now you are sitting on your patio with papa enjoying eighty degree weather because that was your favorite thing to do. When I was not with you I always imagined you sitting on your patio, in your white lawn chair next to your make shift table that would topple over. You loved to make sure your flowers looked good and they always did, around your white rocks, which I would always jump over and soon after be told not too so I would not fall. Taking trips to the library with you always amused me. I will never know someone who read more books than you Ga. Piles of books would be placed next to your arm chair in your little tv room, where you spent the colder days. I loved having talks with you wether on your patio or in your living room. We would talk about so many things including our favorite TV show, The Walking Dead. Everywhere the family went with you, ga you made that place even more special. Including The Inn at Okoboji and even our own porch where you loved to sit and feel the summer breeze. Ga, you are missed every day and I love you so much, you were filled with so much joy and love. Even in your last days you were working towards making sure everyone was happy and thinking about everyone but yourself. When I think of you I will always picture you with your glasses, cozy slippers and colorful outfits sitting on your porch, in your white lawn chair, listening to the birds next to your make shift table that would always topple over. I love you so very much and will miss you with every passing day.
Cindy Dawson
11/01/2017
Jean,
Thank you for being a true blue friend. We shared many laughs about everything. We solved world problems but no one ever called to ask for our solutions! You were a wonderful friend and I always felt at home with you. I miss you.
Cindy