Jean A. Burt, 94, of Rowan, passed away on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at the
Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at United
Church of Rowan, 811 Pesch Street in Rowan, with Pastor Nancy Hofmeister
officiating. Burial will take place at Graceland Cemetery in Rowan.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at
the church.
Life is a journey. I started mine April 4, 1927 in Clarion, lowa, the older of
two children. My parents were William Earl and Margaret (Young) McGrath. I grew
up in Clarion and graduated valedictorian of my senior class of 1945. I played
violin in the school orchestra, and we did many pledge drives to help the war
effort.
The fall of 1945 I entered classes at St. Olaf and University of Minnesota
before entering school at Kahler School in Rochester, Minnesota, graduating in
1948.On Feb. 20, 1949 I was joined in marriage to Donald Burt at the Methodist
church in Clarion, lowa. We settled on a farm 2 miles west of Rowan. Being a
city girl I soon learned how to drive a tractor and haul grain. Did a little
plowing too! I also had four children while working at hospitals in Fort Dodge,
Clarion, and Belmond from 1965 to 1970. I was a surgical nurse assisting Dr.
Bennetti numerous times.
I attended the United Church of Rowan, singing in the choir, serving on the
church council, and a stint as Sunday School Superintendent.
I was a member of ladies afternoon club and evening couples bridge club.
After retirement, Don and I started traveling. We did fishing trips to Canada
and trips to Alaska and Mexico. Don and I purchased a cottage in Northwest
Ontario in 1976. We spent our summers in Ontario and winters in Arizona. After
Don died in 1997, I stayed at the farm until 2018 when I moved to the Belmond
Rehabilitation Center in Belmond.
Jean was preceded in death by her father William "Earl"; mother Margaret;
husband Don; daughter Barbara; son Jeffery; and grandsons Wade and Anthony Burt
at birth.
Survivors include sons, Steven Burt of rural Rowan, Randall (Marcia) Burt of
rural Rowan; grandchildren Nancy (Jeff) Lawrence, Kara (Neal) Van Dyke, Mark
(Melissa) Dorenkamp, Eric (Kristi) Burt, Erin Burt, Kylee (Eric) Lamb, Randi Ann
Burt (JK Franklin), Barry Burt (Jessica James), Kimberly (Keith) Belstene,
Joslyn (Adam) Stock, Derek (Jill) Burt; 22 great grandchildren; numerous nieces,
nephews, and friends.