Jean Mullen

Ethel Jean Mullen passed away on April 14, 2022, in Ankeny, Iowa. A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., April 19, 2022, at Ankeny Funeral Home, Ankeny, Iowa, followed by a graveside at Oralabor Cemetery.

Jean was born August 29, 1926, in Hawarden, Saskatchewan, Canada, she was the third of seven children born to Noble and Mary Dimmit. The family moved to Agency, Iowa where Jean graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1943. She received her teaching certificate and taught at the Wapello County Rural Schools. Her students asked if they could call her something other than Miss Dimmitt, she decided it would be okay if they called her ‘Teach’. She loved her students and talked about them often. On May 30th, 1948 she married Ralph Mullen. While in Agency, Richard (Rick) and Keith were born. Jean worked at the Agency Post Office for many years. They then moved to Des Moines, Iowa. It was then that their third child, Susan, was born. Jean worked at Younkers, The Boy Scouts of America, Osco Drug, and Target.

Jean was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church. She loved being the coordinator for weddings at the church, assuring everything went according to plan. After Ralph passed away in 1996, she moved to AHEPA Senior Apartments Ankeny, Iowa in 2010. She made many friends and enjoyed all the social interactions that came with it. In October of 2021, she moved to Sunnyview Care Center in Ankeny, Iowa.

Those left to honor her memory: Rick (Mary) Mullen of Indianola, Keith (Tamie) Mullen of Ankeny, and Sue McCracken (Jay Gordon) of Cary, North Carolina. Grandchildren: Mary (Scott) Little, Kevin (Charlette) Mullen, Tim (Kairee) Mullen, Amanda Jo (Abe) Turcotte, Rebekah McCracken, Sarah McCracken, and Brody Gordon. Ten great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Her sister Judy Watters and brother Colin Dimmit.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Noble and Mary, husband Ralph, and brothers Robert, Stanley, Wayne, Kenny, and brother-in-law Don Watters.

We would like to thank Sunnyview Care Center for their kind and caring spirit and for loving her unconditionally. Jean loved the staff who took care of her.

Jean was a generous and beautiful soul who was loved by many. We know she is enjoying her reunion with Ralph in Heaven.