Jean Ann White

Jean Ann White

02/12/1933 – 09/25/2023

HAWARDEN, IOWA – Jean Ann White, 90, of rural Hawarden, went to be with her Lord on Monday, September 25, 2023.

   Visitation with the family will be from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a time of sharing at 2:00 p.m., on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Hawarden. The family requests that memorials be directed to the First Baptist Church. The Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden is assisting the family.

   Jean was born February 12, 1933, on a farm in Niobrara, NE to Arthur & Ethel (Cameron) Davis. She attended Scott School and graduated in 1951 from Hawarden High School. Jean worked in the Hawarden City Clerk office for $1.00 an hour from 1951 until she married H. Dean White on December 3, 1954. They eloped to Luverne, MN, and it was often questioned if they were truly married as they went to their separate homes that night. After a honeymoon to New Orleans, she traveled the Midwest with Dean who worked for VanBuskirk Construction.

   Their only daughter, Cynthia, was born while in Kansas and they moved back to the South Dakota side of Hawarden in 1958. Together they farmed the Brunskill farm for 38 years, moving into a new home in 1976.  Jean was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hawarden where she held many jobs, her favorite as clerk in which she took great pride.

   Jean was an avid gardener with several attractive flower beds. She enjoyed watching the cardinals, her favorite bird, eat at the birdfeeder. Her favorite activity was sitting outside in the sun enjoying the view of her yard and the crop fields. She took pleasure in cooking for her family and occasional farm help, a family favorite was her pork chops and gravy.

   Being a Nana was her favorite title. She dearly loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed attending as many of their activities as possible. They will all miss their loving Nana.

   Survivors include one daughter, Cynthia (Terry) Waterman of Hawarden; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Traci (Shane) Niewenhuis of Corsica, South Dakota and their children Ryder, Lane, and Aspen Niewenhuis; Kyle (Kimberly) Waterman of Hawarden and their children Camden and Collins Waterman; Andrew (KayeLynn) Waterman and daughter Elliana of Sioux Falls, South Dakota;  Alex (Loren) Waterman and daughter Murphy of Corsica, South Dakota; sisters, Jayne (Stan) Venard of Waukee, IA and Yvonne Hartman of Hawarden; and nieces and nephews.

   Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Dean of 64 years in 2019; her parents; a sister, Arta Vander Schoor and her husband Harold; a brother, Cameron Davis and his wife Verlan; a brother-in-law, Wilbur Hartman; three nieces and two nephews.