Our beloved mother, Jeanne Antoinette (Esper) Brown, Ph.D., 93, of Haslett, passed away Sunday, August 15, 2021 with family around her. Jeanne was born on January 22, 1928 in Columbus, Ohio. She received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and married her sweetheart in uniform, Franklin S. Brown on June 11, 1949. In 1958 Jeanne and Frank moved to Haslett, Michigan with their 3 young children.
While raising her family, Jeanne taught nursery school, was a Girl Scout leader and went on to earn both a Master’s Degree and Doctorate from Michigan State University (MSU). She had a robust career as a professor of Family and Child Development and as an outreach educator for the MSU Cooperative Extension Service. Jeanne traveled extensively throughout the State and oversees with her Extension work and received national honors for her service. She was a strong role model and always willing to help those in need.
In retirement, Jeanne and Frank traveled to many countries throughout Europe, as well as to South America, Hawaii and Alaska. She also traveled to China with her daughter Kathy, granddaughter Kate and grandson Andrew (Yusheng) Simon.
Jeanne greatly enjoyed family gatherings for birthdays, special events and holidays. Family was of the utmost importance to Jeanne throughout her life. She is survived by her children Kathy Brown Simon (Dr. Joseph), David, and Lynne (Ann Hill), along with five grandchildren Anna Simon, Kate Simon (Brandon Grafius), Lauren Brown Pierce (Devin Danescu), Tessa Rose Simon, Army Second Lieutenant, Andrew Simon and 4 great-grandchildren Clementine, Julian, Fenton and Reece. She is also survived by her brother, Thomas Esper (Nancy Jo, deceased), of Washington CH, Ohio, and a sister, Patricia Wolfe (Fred, deceased), and of Dallas, Texas, her cousin Hildegard Enesco (Mircea Enesco, deceased) and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold Esper and Esther Rose (Leonhardt) Esper of Columbus, Ohio, and her husband, Franklin (September 1, 2007).
A remembrance and celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, September 26th at 2pm at the Gorsline Runciman East Lansing Chapel, at 1730 East Grand River, East Lansing, MI 48823
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation. Jeanne was quite active in the foundation and was instrumental in established a caregivers support group https://www.parkinsonsmi.org/support-mpf/donatenow
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