Jeanne Anne Fitzgerald

Jeanne Anne Fitzgerald was born on February 11, 1923, to Martha Annette “Nettie” and Lars Kloster in Des Moines, Iowa, the youngest of three children. She passed away peacefully at home in her sleep on June 11, 2025, in Riverside, California, at 102 years of age.

Jeanne grew up in Des Moines and graduated as the valedictorian of her East High School class. After attending Luther College, she completed undergraduate and master’s degrees in psychology at the University of Iowa where she met the love of her life, Lou, during an afternoon tea dance. They were married on September 12, 1948, in Iowa City.

Jeanne worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for two years before college. During college she was a resident assistant and hosted her own radio show. After graduating she was a social worker for Lutheran Social Services and then taught second grade before starting a family. She traveled to California with Lou when his reserve unit was called up during the Korean War (he had served in the Navy during WWII).

Jeanne and Lou then returned to Iowa where Lou continued working on his doctorate in education. They spent two years in foreign service in Brazil before returning to the University of Iowa so that Lou could finish his degree. They subsequently lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, West Lafayette, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Des Moines, Iowa as Lou’s career progressed and their children grew and flourished. Lou passed away in 1979 and she decided to move to Riverside in February 1988 when her first grandchild was born. She joined Trinity Lutheran Church after she arrived.

Jeanne and Lou loved dancing and enjoyed moving to the big band music of their era. They shared this love with their children by encouraging informal family dancing in the living room to music of all kinds, including beautiful songs from Brazil.

Music, politics, and ongoing study of her faith were three of Jeanne Anne’s lifelong interests though never overshadowed by her passion for supporting and learning more about the interests of her family and church family members. She was an accomplished pianist (Debussy’s Claire De Lune a favorite) and a lovely experienced choral singer. Although she loved intellectual pursuits of all kinds and lived each day with an interest in learning more about how to extend her understanding of serious topics, she delighted in having a good laugh with others and a chuckle with her own humanity.

One ability Jeanne Anne shared throughout her life including her razor-sharp memory was her gift for asking questions and a genuine interest in finding ways to include others. She was deeply thankful for God’s love for us and rejoiced in the wonderful gift of her faith. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren (Louis Mateo and Ellie here now and Kinsley Jeanne soon to be born) passionately. She was also immensely grateful for her church family at Trinity and so proud of the ongoing ministry of caring and love shared there.

Jeanne is survived by her three children: Raymond (Mary) Fitzgerald; Kevin (Karen) Fitzgerald; and Yatidi (the late Peter) Lightfoot. She is survived by five grandchildren: Kevin Fitzgerald; Matthew (Danae Hernandez Cortez) Fitzgerald; Austin (Kara) Fitzgerald; Claire Fitzgerald; and step grandson Matthew Lightfoot (Jennifer). She is also survived by great grandchildren: Ellie Lightfoot, Louis Mateo Fitzgerald Hernandez, and soon to be born, Kinsley Jeanne Fitzgerald. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Louis Fitzgerald, her parents, Lars and Martha Annette “Nettie” Kloster, her brothers Alexander and Marion Kloster, and her son-in-law, Peter Lightfoot.

A memorial service for Jeanne will be held on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5969 Brockton Avenue, Riverside California.

Contributions in memory of Jeanne may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church music program, 5969 Brockton Ave., Riverside, CA 92506, or through TrinityRiverside.org.