Jean Jahr

Jean Fraser Heald Jahr, 87, of Decatur, passed away February 25 at her home at Hickory Point Christian Village in Forsyth. Jean was born in Davenport, Iowa, April 15, 1925, the daughter of Walter Eugene Heald and Audna Ann Fraser Heald. She married Wilbur (Will) J. Jahr on February 5, 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland. As a child in Davenport, she enjoyed crossing the Mississippi River by ferry with her two sisters, Mary Ellen and Ivana. During WWII, she was USO secretary in Aberdeen, Maryland and later was on-site secretary to the architect/engineer at Lone Star Ordinance Depot in Texarkana, Texas. In 1944, at the age of 19, she acquired her private pilot's license. After the war she worked as office manager in her husband's businesses (W. J. Jahr Company and Audiotronics) for fifty years. She was a member of the Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) attaining the status of graduate. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church for forty years until its demise, and for the past seven years she was a member of The Study Class of Decatur. In the 1970's, Jean and her husband participated in the New School of Decatur where her daughter, Laura, attended. For seven years in the 1980's, Jean served as Area Representative of American Field Service (AFS). Jean and her husband hosted many foreign students including five Spanish students from one family, each for one year: Francisco (Kiko), Susanna, Lorena, Jose, and Carmen (Mamen) de Tena of Alcala de Henares, Spain. Jean is survived by her husband, Will, three children; Ronald Jahr (Linda), Naperville, IL, Patricia Bolen (Ron), Chrisman, IL, Laura Jahr, Decatur, two foster children; Mohammad (Michelle) Sagakhaneh, St. Louis, MO., Abdolreza (Kim) Sagakhaneh, St. Louis, MO, grandchildren; Michael (Lori) Buth, Bolingbrook, IL, Craig Buth, Bolingbrook, IL, Christine (Lorin) Schumacher, Gaffney, SC, Dr. Michael Rueter, Sioux Falls, SD, Matthew Rueter, Madrid, Spain, Daniel Calleja, Nicolas Calleja, Elia Calleja, all of Decatur, Amir Sagakhaneh, Samantha Sagakhaneh, Kevin Sagakhaneh, all of St. Louis, MO., great-grandchildren; Joshua Buth, Bolingbrook, IL, Calin Schumacher and Derek Schumacher both of Gaffney, SC; nieces and nephews; Sylvia (Ken) de Santo, Clyde, NY, Hal Bacon, Eldridge, IA, John Bacon, Rochester, MN, Jean Bacon, Calif., Kenneth Heald, Robert Heald, Richard Heald, all of Davenport, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and two sisters. Services will be held Friday, March 8, at St. John's Episcopal Church, 130 W. Eldorado St., Decatur, with visitation from 1 P.M. to 3 P.M. and a memorial service to follow at 3 P.M. Interment will be at Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield. Memorials may be made to American Field Service, www.afsusa.org/donate/tribute-giving or St. John's Episcopal Church, Decatur, or the charity of your choice. Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur, IL, will be handling the arrangements. "
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