Jean Ethel (Menhusen) Knowlton
Jean Ethel (Menhusen) Knowlton, age 100, passed away December 16, 2023 at the Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems Resident Care Center, Beloit, KS. She was born Aug 1, 1923, and was the oldest of four children born to Theodore and Bessie Ethel (Snyder) Menhusen at Jewell, Ks.
Jean went to Jewell Public Schools and graduated from Jewell High School. She worked at the Jewell Elevator, Jewell Co. ASCS office, and McCarthy Hardware.
Jean met the love of her life, Albert Clinton Knowlton and they married Dec 26, 1943. They spent their honeymoon in Kansas City, Ks, where they bought their first car. They were wed 58 years when Albert passed away in 2002.
Jean was a homemaker and farm wife. Born to this union were two daughters: Ann Jeannette Colson and Nancy Jo Anderson. During early years of marriage there were wartime and food, gas and clothing rations, so a big garden was raised and canned. She did a lot of baking and dressed chickens. Jean’s dad, Ted, helped butcher and process beef and pork. Jean belonged to Tri-H Club, and held many offices in UMW at the Methodist Church, Civic Improvement Club, and Jewell Garden Club. Jean and Albert enjoyed their family, playing cards, dancing, and picture shows. When they retired, they built a house in Jewell, Ks, where she lived until about the last 5 years, she spent at Resident Care Center, Beloit Ks. Jean and Albert spent 15 winters at Alamo, TX.
Jean was preceded in death by parents, husband Albert; sisters: Alice T Meckfessel,
Fannie Louise Menhusen; brother: Robert S. Menhusen, Nephews Monty Menhusen, Kenny Knarr, and Warren Heinen; sister-in-laws Bernadette Menhusen, Noma Arasmith, Alene Heinen; Brothers-in-law Douglas Knarr, Lyle Arasmith, Harold Heinen.
She is survived by daughters: Ann Colson (Stan); Nancy Anderson (Jerry). Grandchildren: Marcia (Colson) Duskie (ED); Gary Colson (Shena); Joe Colson (Christy); Peg (Colson) Johnson (David); Kathy (Anderson) Livingston (Jason); Darrell Anderson (Juretta); eighteen Great Grandchildren, and twenty eight Great-Great Grandchildren and more on the way, and a host of friends & other relatives.
Visitation will be Thursday December 21, 2023 at Kleppinger Funeral Home, Jewell, KS from 2pm – 6pm.
Funeral Services will be Friday December 22, 2023 at the Trinity Methodist Church, Jewell, KS at 10:30am with Pastor Keith Shank Officiating.
Burial will follow at Wallace Cemetery, Jewell, KS.
In lieu of flowers, Memorials are suggested to the Trinity Methodist Church, Solomon Valley Hospice, or the Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems Resident Care Center.