Her mind was clear and her spirit was strong to the end.

She was deeply interested in the world: nature, sports (Iowa Hawkeyes), politics, art and classical music (es- Opera). Jeanne was born in Monticello, MN and it amazed her that this small town farm girl would find the handsome and personable Fred Adams from Waterloo, IA as her life partner. Though a shy girl, she performed in many plays and musicals in high school.

As an English major at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, she developed her talents as a writer. You would not forget a letter from Jeanne - perfect penmanship and newsy commentary with a few nature observations, of course. She was known as the Scrabble Queen at the family cabin.

Like many of her generation, Jeanne joined the war effort. As a Rosie the Riveter, she worked on the B-24 bombers known as the ’Liberators’ in Pueblo, CO.

Jeanne often joined Fred for fly fishing trips on the rivers of northeast Iowa and WI. Soon they were camping, fishing and swimming from canoes or the military life raft with their six children. After losing son Johnny, Jeanne became the Chairman of Membership and Receptions for Friends of the Hearst promoting local artists in CF/Waterloo.

Jeanne and Fred loved to entertain friends and family at the family cabin. Following vacations to the Ely area, they fell in love with the north country and the BWCA. In 1970, they found the land for the cabin on Snowbank Lake - designed by Si Saito and built by family and friends.

In later years, after Fred ‘retired’, he continued to design kitchens in the north country with Jeanne by his side for each project. Once again, Jeanne made it to her beloved Snowbank Lake for the summer of 2023.

Jeanne is preceded by children, Johnny and Amy.

She is survived by children, Audrey, Julie, Fred IV, Sara; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; other extended family and friends.

Memorials in Jeanne’s memory may be made to The Hearst Center for the Arts (Cedar Falls, IA) and the Ely Public Library (Ely, MN).