Jeanne
Jeanne Ann Mills
Born April 17, 1941 at Fort Riley, Kansas
Died February 12, 2011 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Married John Roger Weddle on February 20, 1960 in Miami, OK
Parents:
Velda Oneta Simon
Lt. Clifford W. Mills
Children:
Two children
Jeanne spent her early years in Wamego, Kansas. Jeanne’s father, Clifford, was killed in action in the Philippines during WWII. Jeanne had extensive lung problems as a child and was frequently in the hospital, eventually losing half a lung.
After the war, Velda remarried to Walter Kelsey, also of Wamego. The family moved to Kansas City, Kansas, and Jeanne graduated from Turner High. She met her future husband, John Weddle, there where he was a football player and she was a cheerleader. Jeanne went to cosmetology school and was a hairdresser until they started a family.
After her divorce, Jeanne studied with Max Factor and sold makeup at a prestigious department store, until being hired by the phone company. She worked for many years as a telephone operator in Kansas City, Tucson and Phoenix. She retired early, returning to KCK to care for her mother with Alzheimer’s. She was patient and kind throughout Velda’s long illness. When Velda moved to a nursing facility, Jeanne was a popular visitor with the residents. She gladly did manicures for the ladies and joked with the gentlemen. Her laughter rang through the hallways and lifted their spirits. After her mother’s death, she moved to Lone Jack, Missouri.
Jeanne struggled with her health throughout her life. She survived three kinds of cancer and severe pancreatitis and lived with COPD. Throughout everything, she coped with an incredible sense of humor and zest for life. If you once met Big Red, you would never forget her. She loved to joke and laugh and was able to find fun in even mundane tasks. She took great joy in decorating her home and in her two cats.
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