Jennean A. Veatch

Jennean Ann Veatch passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on October 4, 2017. She was born to Ira and Ethel Barnes on March 15, 1933 in Salina, KS. She moved to Cedaredge, CO when she was 3 and then moved to Grand Junction, CO when she was 15. Jennean was working at the Vale Café as a car hop in Fruitvale when she met the love of her life Keith Veatch. Keith was playing the pinball machine when Jennean asked a friend about him, less than a year later they were married on June 8, 1950. Keith and Jennean started a family in 1952 with their daughter Debra LeAnn. She was followed by a brother Daniel Keith in 1954.

The Veatch Family moved to Fruita, CO in 1955, the same year they started managing Surface Creek Creamery, where they bought cream from farmers to be made into Challenge Butter. In 1963, Keith and Jennean bought their home on the Redlands, where they currently reside. Jennean started her career as a school bus driver on Sept 1, 1967 where she drove until her retirement in 2002. Most people will remember her as the bus driver of Bus #25. Jennean took pride in driving nearly the same route for 35 years. Often times, driving children, of the children she took to school. While driving bus, she and Keith continued to run the Creamery until December 1976.

In her spare time, Jennean loved to craft. She was very inventive and resourceful. During their 67 year marriage, Keith and Jennean spent 25 years of it square dancing. She also liked to camp and garden, but spending time with her family and being a grandma was her most rewarding job. She was an amazing cook, known for her goulash, macaroni and cheese and weenie gravy. Her sense of humor and wittiness was infectious. She had the ability to tell stories from her early years in such detail as if they had just happened. If she wasn’t telling the story, she was singing it. She had a song for every occasion. Jennean had a heart of gold and will be greatly missed. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Until we meet again, Lov-a Lov-a.

Jennean is survived by her husband Keith; daughter Debbie Zambrano of Colorado Springs; son Dan Veatch of Salt Lake City; granddaughter April Hoffman (Ryan, Tyler, Cory) of Grand Junction; granddaughter Heather Zambrano (Ashlyn, Kellyn, Braylon) of Colorado Springs; daughter in law Crystal Veatch (Ron, Donnie, Michael, Alexis) of Grand Junction; as well as multiple extended family members. Jennean is proceed in death by her granddaughter Brandie Veatch Havard and grandson Domenic Zambrano.

Visitation will be held Sunday, October 8, 2017, 3:00-5:00pm at Martin Mortuary, 550 North Ave, GJ. Funeral services honoring Jennean’s life will be held at 10:00am on Monday, October 9, 2017 at 10:00am, also at Martin Mortuary. Burial to follow at Grand Junction Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to HopeWest 3090 North 12th Street, Unit B, Grand Junction, CO 81506.