Jean A. Stenstrom

Jean A. Heydon-Stenstrom, age 90, of Coon Rapids, Iowa passed away on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, September 29, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids with Rev. Joyce Webb officiating. Music for the service will be by Jean’s grandchildren Sarah Hatten, Evan Diehl, and Melinda Sanchez accompanied by Jim Diehl. Organist for the service will be Lula Garnes. Casket bearers will be Jean’s grandchildren. Graveside service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at the Ponca Public Cemetery in Ponca, Nebraska. Visitation will be held from 5 – 7 P.M. on Thursday at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids. The casket will be moved to the First United Methodist Church at 10:00 A.M. on Friday where visitation will resume until the time of service. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com Born on February 23, 1927 in Wayne, Nebraska she was the daughter of Ernest and Ann (Meister) Paulson. She grew up in Newcastle, Nebraska and graduated from Newcastle High School. Jean married Willard Heydon in 1945 and after 10 years of working with his father farming, the couple moved their young family to Audubon, Iowa and later settled in Coon Rapids, Iowa. In addition to raising her children and keeping a home for her family, Jean went to work outside the home when the children were older. She worked at the Glidden Egg Plant for over 20 years and later worked at the General Electric plant in Carroll, IA where she retired at the age of 62. Jean later worked part-time at Wal-Mart in Carroll. Willard passed away on January 4, 1989. Jean later married Elmer Stenstrom in 1998. Nothing pleased Jean more than preparing special meals and baking her many cookies, cakes, and breads for her family, friends and neighbors. She loved vegetable and flower gardening, and spent hours in her gardens, using her produce to feed her family and her flowers to fill her home throughout the years. Her legacy of sacrifice, strength and love for her family will always be remembered and she will be greatly missed by her family. After her long health battle, she is at peace. Poet James Weldon Johnson said it best -“Weep no more, weep no more. She’s resting in the bosom of Jesus.” Jean is survived by her seven children: Alice (Jerry )Fuller of San Jose, California, David (Renette) Heydon of Havre, Montana, Kay Fick of Encinitas, California, Norma Heydon-Wrather (Brian Carroll) of Parker, Colorado, Ellen (Jim) Diehl of Ankeny, Iowa, Edward (Cindy) Heydon of Coon Rapids, Iowa., and Ann (Jason) Yeager from Parker, Colorado; nineteen grandchildren, thirty great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren; a daughter-in-law Marilyn Heydon of Bondurant, Iowa, a son-in-law Dennis Murphy of Scranton; and many nieces and nephews. Jean is preceded in death by her first husband Willard Heydon with whom she shared 44 years of marriage, her second husband Elmer Stenstrom in 2012, son Stephen Heydon, daughter Pat Murphy, sons-in-law Daryl Cox and Doug Fick and two infants at birth.