Jeanne Kay Vander Well

Jeanne Kay Vander Well, age 85, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 13, 2023, after long bouts with auto-immune Hepatitis and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Jeanne was born August 18, 1937, in Des Moines, Iowa, the only child of Claude and Gladys (Yeater) Hendrickson. She attended Des Moines Public Schools, graduating from North High School in 1955. While attending Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa, Jeanne met the love of her life when Dean Vander Well offered to take her to Dairy Queen after a Maundy Thursday service. They were married on September 14, 1957.

After a brief move to Idaho Falls, Idaho, Jeanne and Dean returned to Le Mars, Iowa. They moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 1968 where they enjoyed life and raising their family. Jeanne loved singing and participated in choirs in both school and church. She loved china painting and created many pieces that have become treasured family heirlooms. She was an active member of Immanuel United Methodist Church and First Federated Church. She served Des Moines Public Schools as a “Lunch Lady” at Moore Elementary School. She also managed the Mole Hole gift shop for many years.

Jeanne will be remembered as a kind and generous lady. Expected or not, guests and visitors were always welcome, always loved, and always fed when they showed up at her door. Her children knew that their friends were always welcome even when that meant a house-full of teens showing up with little or no notice. She made sure that everyone was provided for. Baked goods were her specialty, and her children always came home from school to homemade cookies, cake, brownies, or treats.

Later in life, Jeanne and Dean spent much of their time with family and friends at their “Playhouse” on Lake of the Ozarks. Her grandchildren were the joy of her life, and she loved having “Grandma Camp” during the summer when she would get as many of them together as possible for a week that she lovingly and generously planned.

After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Jeanne and Dean moved into Woodlands Creek Retirement Community in Clive. In the fall of 2022, they moved to Pella, Iowa where Jeanne finished her earthly journey in the Cottages at Hearthstone.

Jeanne is survived by her husband, Dean Vander Well; her four children, Terry ( Bonnie) Vander Well, Tim ( Kumiko Hisano) Vander Well, Jody ( Scott) Keithley, and Tom (Wendy) Vander Well; six grandchildren, Samuel ( Lydia) Keithley, Taylor ( Clayton Boeyink) Vander Well, Solomon Keithley, Madison ( Garrett) Anderson, Eloise Vander Well, and Emma Keithley; and four great-grandchildren, Milo Vander Well, Josiah Keithley, Sylvie Vander Well, and Ezekiel Keithley.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Gladys Hendrickson.

A visitation is planned at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines from 5:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 16. A memorial service will be held at The Mission Church, 12001 Ridgemont Dr, Urbandale at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 17 with lunch to immediately follow. There will be a private graveside service.

Memorial Contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association or The Mission Church and online condolences expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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