Jean Ganske of The Villages, Florida peacefully joined our heavenly Father, September 18, 2020.
“Live Out Loud” best describes her creative lifestyle. Jean was born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa. Following graduation from Sacred Heart, she received her degree at University of Northern Iowa / graduate student at University of Iowa and Minnesota. Teaching was her passion, beginning in Eldora to Allison-Bristow to New Hampton, Iowa. She taught art and speech for 34 years; loved her career and loved her students. Her teaching didn’t stop after retirement. She taught art and calligraphy for 21 years in The Villages.
Jean was a member of the CIC and travel board. She was the founder of the Educators Retired club, founded the Iowa/Minnesota state club, started the traveling Ladies Billiards team and founded the Peripheral Neuropathy support group which she lead for 15 years. She served on the library board and on Parks/Recreation board.
Golfing was another huge passion for Jean. She played a one-on-one exhibition with the infamous Patty Berg, played professionally for a period of time and was a golf coach in the New Hampton school system. In her career she had seven holes in one. Jean continued to give golf lessons the rest of her life. Hobbies were many; reading, fishing at her lake cabin, calligraphy, painting and writing.
Jean joins her husband Roger and her daughter Jeri in heaven. Survived by her youngest daughter Nan-c, grandsons Tyler (Jeanette) and Cameron (Sarah), great grandsons Mr B aka Braylon and M&M aka Meryk and a great granddaughter on the way.
From Robert Frost, The Road not taken, Jean writes… “I don’t know if I’ve taken the one less traveled but I do know the road I’ve taken has made all the difference”.
