Born January 6, 1924 in Victory Township in Mason County, Michigan to Leon Adam and Margaret (Jokubouskas) Stakenas, she married Arthur David Jones. He died in 1967. She later married Norbert Jacob “Norb” Schaefer on December 4, 1982 in Green Valley. He died August 31, 2019 in Pekin. She also was preceded in death by her parents; one son, David Jones; one stepdaughter, Judy Brown; one half-sister, Stella Gulembo; one half-brother, Joe Knobic and two infant sisters.
Surviving are one son, Steven (Debra) Jones of Chicago; one daughter, Barbara “Bobbie” Jennings of Washington; one step-daughter, Christie (Chris) Martis of Pekin; one step-son, Jeff (Patti) Schaefer of Pekin; fifteen grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren.
Jean was a graduate of Michigan State College in East Lansing, Michigan, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology.
She worked at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield for 20 years, retiring in 1982 as the lab manager.
Jean was a member of St. John’s (Sand Prairie) Lutheran Church in rural Green Valley, where she was the secretary to the church voter’s group. She also was a faithful volunteer at Ewe’s Treasures in Pekin and had served on the Good Shepherd Lutheran School Board of Education.
Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 10, 2021 at St. John’s (Sand Prairie) Lutheran Church in rural Green Valley. Pastor Chris Sansom and DCE William Krueger will officiate. Visitation will be one half-hour before the service at the church. Inurnment will be in Sand Prairie Cemetery in rural Green Valley. Arrangements are by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s (Sand Prairie) Lutheran Church, 13443 Townline Road, Green Valley, IL 61534 or to Good Shepherd Lutheran School, 3201 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554.
To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com
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