Jean Ann Keister, age 85, passed away on Friday, November 17, 2023 at Northridge Village Senior Living in Ames, Iowa. She was born to Gilbert and Irene Evelyn (Tedford) Askins on June 7, 1938 in Sycamore, Illinois.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Northridge Village Senior Living Chapel, 3300 George Washington Carver Ave, Ames, Iowa 50010. Inurnment of her ashes will be held, at a later date, at Highlands Methodist Church Columbarium in Bella Vista, Arkansas.
Jean graduated from Sycamore High School in Sycamore Illinois in 1956. Her lively personality and charm during high school led to her classmates naming her homecoming queen, an honor she treasured for many years. On November 18, 1961, Jean married Howard James Keister in Sycamore, Illinois, and they celebrated 40 years of marriage shortly before Howard’s passing in early 2002.
While raising their family, Jean and Howard had the privilege of living in various communities throughout the Midwest, and Jean loved socializing with the lifelong friends they made in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Arkansas. She loved being outdoors, especially camping with her children (when they were growing up) and boating with Howard on Leech Lake in Minnesota and near their home in Bella Vista.
Jean had a special place in her heart for dogs, and did not miss the opportunity to pet and greet a single pup when out for a walk or dining on an outdoor patio that welcomed canine guests. She loved a good root beer and all things chocolate. Jean could be counted on by her grandchildren to have a supply of Bridge Mix on hand, at all times. Always the life of any party, Jean had a wonderful sense of humor, but could not finish a joke worth a darn! Getting the punchline right was always optional, but she still managed to giggle her way through a joke.
Jean was a proud member of the Lion’s Club, as well as the Highland Methodist Church in Bella Vista, Arkansas.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Keister; her parents, Gilbert and Irene Eveyln (Tedford) Askins; her brothers, George Askins, Donald Askins, and Gerry Askins; and her great granddaughter, Gianna Theresa Zachmann. Jean is survived by her children, Jim (Janet) Keister of Big Lake, MN, Jill (Mike) Roof of Ames, Iowa, and Ken (Stephanie) Keister of Glenwood Springs, CO; her grandchildren, Kayla Roof of Ankeny, Kyle Keister of Fargo, ND, Kevin Roof of Minnetonka, MN, Molly (Boston) Zachmann of Bismark, ND, Abbey Keister of Monticello, MN, and her great grandson, Leo James Zachmann of Bismark, ND.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Ames Lion’s Club, PO Box 128, Ames, IA 50010, in loving memory of Jean.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.StevensMemorialChapel.com for the Keister family.
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