"Jeanne was always a positive force in our quilt guild. I remember when my brother lived next door to them that your dad used to come over on his garden tractor with lots of vegetables. They were such a wonderful couple, and I am glad you got so many years to have her with you."
In loving memory of
F. Jeanne Garvin
July 13, 1923 - June 23, 2016
F. JEANNE GARVIN
MUSCATINE, Iowa - F. Jeanne Garvin (née Johnson), 92, of Muscatine, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 23, 2016, at Lutheran Living Senior Campus.
Funeral Mass will be held at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 27, 2016, at St. Mathias Church. A funeral luncheon will be held following the mass at the Mazzuchelli Faith Formation Center at Ss. Mary and Mathias Catholic School, 2407 Cedar Street. Burial will take place in Greenwood Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held from 1 until 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, 2016, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home with a Rosary Prayer Service at 4 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Lutheran Living Senior Campus, Salvation Army, or the Muscatine Community Y. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com. The family would like to thank the caregivers and staff of Lutheran Living for their compassion and kindness.
Jeanne was born on July 13, 1923, in Muscatine, the daughter of Amyl W. and Isabel Kyle Johnson Sr. She graduated from Muscatine High School, Class of 1940, and earned her nursing diploma from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Davenport in 1944. She married Wayne 'Lefty' Charles Garvin on December 13, 1945, at the St. Mary's Church in Muscatine. He preceded her in death on August 10, 2003.
After completing her nursing training, Jeanne began a long and distinguished career in nursing, working first in the office of Dr. Parke Jessup in Muscatine, then at Muscatine County Hospital (now known as UnityPoint Trinity Muscatine). From 1974, until her retirement in 1988, Jeanne served as the Director of Nursing at Muscatine General Hospital. Jeanne derived a great deal of pleasure from serving others as a nurse and administrator. Her enthusiasm for her profession showed not only in her demeanor toward patients and colleagues, but in her desire to keep learning. She earned additional degrees from the University of Minnesota and St. Ambrose University during the course of her nearly 30 year career.
She was an active member of Ss. Mary and Mathias Catholic Church and was a charter member of Keystone Federated Women's Club of Muscatine. She was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinal fan and she expressed her passion for learning through her hobbies. She enjoyed traveling whenever possible and was a self-described "foodie" dedicated to trying and sharing new recipes with family and friends. A voracious reader, she was always ready with a book recommendation. She spent hours knitting and quilting beautiful, one-of-a-kind gifts for her family and friends. Her curiosity was unquenchable.
Jeanne thoroughly enjoyed her family. She always encouraged and supported the endeavors of her three children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. She possessed a quick and dry wit and a down-to-Earth point of view. Her counsel and humor will be greatly missed by all those privileged to know and love her.
Those left to honor her memory include three sons, Patrick Garvin of Washington, D.C., Steven Garvin and wife, Cynthia, and Timothy Garvin and wife, Susan, all of Muscatine; six grandchildren, Sara Storr, Laura Sanders, Rebecca Blake, Jacob Garvin, John Garvin, and Jessica Garvin; nine great-grandchildren; one brother, Jere H. Johnson of Victorville, California; one nephew, Robert Johnson of Seagrove, North Carolina; three nieces, Joann Wintermute of Muscatine, Sally Headley of Carlysle, and Roxe Rosemund of Walcott.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one brother, Amyl W. Johnson Jr.; one sister, Betty Talkington; and one nephew, Mark Johnson.
Tributes
"Oh Jeanne, A favorite lady of mine! I didn't have the pleasure of meeting her until the inception of Crazy Girl Yarn Shop. I worked there at the time and on Tuesdays we had "Knit and Coffee", a few times including potlucks. I have a couple of Jeanne's good recipes. She was always a delight to be with, her humorous take on life would keep us laughing and always her zeal for adventure! I remember her so many times tapping on her watch and saying "Time's a wasting, gotta go, gotta go"! Bless Jeanne, she forever had something she needed or wanted to do! She made the very best of her life here and will remain an inspiration! After the shop closed I'd run into her occasionally and say "we have to go for lunch", sadly I never got that accomplished, for which I will always be sorry! I so admired Jeanne, a very special lady! My sincere sympathy to all her family, we lost a treasure!"
"Garvin Family. I am so sorry for the passing of your Mom. I enjoyed seeing her at the Y m c a in the early AM. Lefty and her use to have some great conversations at the counter. Always funny' polite and told it straight up. May God give you strength and comfort thru these day's of sorrow. God has a another special Angel in Heaven. " Milo " the Y'SMAN"
"I sure loved your Mom and will miss her! She was young at heart, fun and always positive! Quilt group started when she arrived with her basket of scraps and a project. Always heard about the latest on her "boys". "
"Pat, Steve & Tim. .sorry for your loss. It is always hard to lose a loved one. Your mom was a wonderful lady. Your dad was great as well. RIP, wayne. So many memories of growing up on woodlawn ave. Such fun times we had. God bless you all & prayers. Gene & Linda Harris. ( messinger )"
"Pat, Steve, and Tim; my deepest sympathy to you and your families. Your Mom was a very special lady! And as a nurse, she was instrumental in my choosing that as my profession. She will be missed by many. Thoughts and prayers are with you all."
"To John Garvin sorry for your loss. Grandma's are special. Your friend Glenda Wheeler"
"We both entend our deepest sympathy to Jeanne sons and especially to JoAnne her niece. Remember Jeanne from Y morning swim exercises and always had good visit when she came to Arizona. She came to visit us in our new home when we moved to Arizona 9 years ago and would always see her and have good visit on Muscatine Days here in Arizona. She was a special lady and will miss her this winter. Harry and Marilyn McKee"
"Steve, Pat and Tim, it's so hard to lose one's mother. My heart goes out to you and your families. "
"Dear Tim, Steve, and Pat, My condolences on the loss of your mother. I remember fondly her joyful, lively spirit on our many trips together to ballgames in St. Louis and frequent visits between our parents and homes."
"May her memories live in your heart forever she was a very special lady. With Deepest Sympathy."
"To the Garvin Families, Just want you to know how sorry I am. I'll miss the fun times when I come to Muscatine. Jeanne and I would go to the quilt shop, and out to eat. I remember the fun times at the cottage when I was younger. Love, CheeChee"
"Pat, Steve & Tim, I' m so sorry to hear of your loss. Your Mom & mine shared many good times together, like driving to Davenport to get their hair done & playing bridge together. I'm sure she helped get me a position @ Muscatine General many years ago. May she rest in peace."
"My favorite memory is the hat presented to Jeanne by her sons! They had each thought the other had given their mom a ride back to the vacation home...as it turned out- none of them had and they quickly retrieved their mother! She had a great sense of humor and it showed- sorry, I can't remember what they had embroidered on the hat to commemorate the incident. But I will always remember her chuckling about it."
"i'm sorry for the loss to your whole family but glad that you had her for so long. It was a pleasure and honor to know her. I don't think I ever saw her without a smile and a pleasant comment. True grace. "
"Pat, So sorry to hear of your lost. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family."
"My deepest sympathies to all the Garvin's. Jeanne was truly a wonderful and lovely woman. May she rest in peace. God bless you all."
"The gods conceal from men the happiness of death, that they may endure life. Thoughts and prayers to the Garvin family, and especially our dear friend Pat. Clark & Henrik"
"Steve,Tim and Pat, I am sorry for your loss. Your mom was such a neat person. She always had smile are face and was always willing to take time to visit."
"Tim,Steve & Pat. So sad to hear about your mom. She touched so many lives and will truly be missed. I, for one, have been blessed to have known her. She was a special women to me, a soul sister. Praying for peace and comfort for the whole Garvin Family. Much love to you all."
"Our sympathies to the Garvin Family, with prayers of eternal rest and peace for your mother. Sending our love from Arizona. "
"I was lucky enough to grow up on Iowa Avenue directly across from the Garvin home. Our neighborhood was full of kids and all the Moms became Moms to everyone. We were so lucky to have this kind of love and attention from everyone. Jeanne was a very special lady. My sympathy to all the family and sending my love. Louise"
"Jeanne was the most kind, funny, and honest lady around. I always enjoyed our visits, hearing about her family or her latest expeditions. She always shared the best TV show reviews, her delicious baking and caramels, and a well valued opinion on most anything! My sweet birthday buddy will be missed. So sorry for your loss. You will all be in my prayers during this difficult time. "
"I loved spending time with this warm-hearted woman who welcomed my daughter into her family with open arms. I will truly miss my visits with her, but I'm positive she'll remain spiritually active in the lives of all she held dear."
"My sympathies to the Garvin family. I always will remember your Mom as such a kind and beautiful person. She always remembered me clear back from grade school at St. Mary's. May she Rest in peace. "
"So sorry to hear this. I remember her fondly. Thoughts and prayers with you all."
"Jeanne, her sister Betty and family, and the Wintermute family are all part of my extended family, and the memories all are cherished. Jeanne will be missed. I have sent a petition to St. Jude Shrine that she always swore worked to get nurses when she needed them at the hospital. The Claretians will pray for her now."
"Pat, Steve and Tim I am so saddened by your mother's passing. I have had a lifetime of great memories and good times with her. I will cherish them. "
"Very sorry about your MOTHER, She is better off.than we are.Very Sincerely .Rod McCullough."
"Guys, Glad we got to see your mom when we back in May. I remember as a kid growing up seeing her bring you guys to school. She and Lefty always had time to say hi to a snot nosed kid from St Mary's. "
"Blessings of happy memories and consolation to the Garvin and Johnson Families. "