Jean E. Septer, 90, of Pleasant Hill and formerly of Grinnell died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, at Courtyard Estates in Pleasant Hill.
Funeral services were held Oct. 16 at Lynnville Friends Church. Burial was in West Liberty Cemetery near Montezuma.
Memorial contributions may be designated in her name to the upkeep of the West Liberty Cemetery or to the Lynnville Friends Church.
Jean was one of two children born to Max and Elizabeth (McCoy) Sarver on July 8, 1925, in Union Township, Poweshiek County near Forrest Home. Jean attended Searsboro School and was a guard on her high school basketball team and graduated in 1942. After high school, Jean attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines and then went to work at the Automatic Washer Company in Newton. She continued to work there after her wedding until March 1946 when she and Arnold moved to his parents’ farm where they started farming for themselves. They lived on that farm until early 1970.
Jean met Arnold in 1940 at the outdoor movies in Searsboro. They became engaged at Christmas in 1942. Arnold was then in the Army and stationed at Fort Lewis, WA. They were married Oct. 6, 1945, at the home of Jean's parents. Jean and Arnold later moved to that same farm in 1970 and remained there until 2013.
Family and friends were Jean's life, especially her daughters and grandchildren. She was always willing to help others and loved to share the bounties of her garden, whether it be fresh, frozen, or canned. Fried chicken, dinner rolls, pies, and peanut brittle were some of her specialties in the kitchen. Besides being a full-time farmer's wife, she had been a 4-H leader, had a detasseling crew for several summers, and worked at Grinnell College for several years. Jean enjoyed playing cards, attending the local women's club, tying quilts at her church, quilting for herself and family, and researching her family's genealogy.
Jean was survived by her three daughters: Barbara (Alex) Glann of Runnells, Patricia Septer of Runnells, Susan (James) Devig of Huxley; four grandchildren; several cousins; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Arnold; her grandson, Robert Glann; and her brother, Donald Sarver.
