Jeannine M. Thon, 78, of Grinnell and formerly of Searsboro, died Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at the Mayflower Community Health Care Center. A celebration of her life was held Saturday, May 9, at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Interment was in the Searsboro Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Jeannine Thon Memorial Fund and sent in care of Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Jeannine was born Jan. 27, 1937, to James Sr. and Marguerite Evelyn (Missey) Guthrie in St. Louis, MO. In 1947, the family moved to the Searsboro area. She graduated from Searsboro Community School in 1956.
On June 24, 1961, she was united in marriage to Leonard "Bud" Thon at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell. Jeannine was known for her ability in the kitchen. She held a great passion for cooking. Bud and Jeannine owned and operated the Dixie Inn in Grinnell. She also started B and J's, a café/grocery store in Searsboro, with her sister-in-law, Barb. She worked as a cook at the Grinnell Middle School and local restaurants for several years. Jeannine's favorite job was being the cook for the Grinnell Day Care. She also worked at Bates Flowers for several years.
Jeannine enjoyed her flower gardens and "playing in the dirt." She rarely missed her grandchildren's activities. She loved a good conversation. Jeannine will always be remembered for her cinnamon rolls and fried chicken.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Kim (Rick) Shutts of Searsboro; her granddaughter, Amber (Dan) Goemaat; her grandson, Bryan (Allison) Shutts; six great grandchildren, Trace, Cory, and Dawson Goemaat; Wyatt, Angus, and May Shutts, all of New Sharon; her sisters-in-law, Veronica Guthrie of Grinnell and Barbara Meredith of Lynnville; and several nieces and nephews.
Jeannine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1984; and her brother, James M. Guthrie, Jr. in 1976.
