Obituary of Jean R. Huntoon
Jean Robb Huntoon passed away peacefully from complications of kidney cancer on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at the Portage County Health Care Center in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
Born at home in New Windsor, Illinois to Lester L. Robb and Lois A. (Isaacson) Robb on the occasion of their first wedding anniversary, (Norma) Jean was a proud student of Silver Lake School, a one-room K-8 rural school. Jean served as valedictorian of the class of 1950 at New Windsor High School.
Jean attended Monmouth College, majoring in English from 1950-1952. There, she met her husband of 63 years Richard (Dick) Huntoon. Dick and Jean’s first date was at a fraternity dance on Friday, April 13, 1951, and in her words, she “never looked back.”
Jean and Dick were married on June 20, 1953 at First English Lutheran Church in Galesburg, Illinois and they made their homes in Detroit, Michigan, Syracuse, New York, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and enjoyed their retirement on Prairie Lake in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Dick passed away on January 2, 2017.
Jean was employed as an executive secretary, but her true passion was painting, which she fully realized in her retirement, participating in many watercolor workshops at Dillman’s Sand Lake Lodge.
A life-long scholar, Jean was a certified instructor of the Bethel Bible Series, a professional editor, an avid reader, an accomplished poet, and an expert knitter.
In addition to her husband, Jean is predeceased by her parents and her brother, Neal. She is survived by her children, Ben (Kathleen) of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Ann (David Hastings) of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and John (Diana) of Cicero, Indiana, as well as grandchildren Grace Huntoon, Isaac Huntoon, Daniel Knuth, David (Kelly) Knuth, Alex (Tiffany) Hastings, and Charles (Emily) Hastings, and great-grandchildren Cayla and Evelyn Rattay.
A celebration of Jean’s life will take place on Saturday, June 2 at Grace Lutheran Church in Tomahawk, Pastor Mark Ziemer officiating. Visitation will be at 11:00 a.m. with the service to follow at 2:00 p.m.
The family is grateful for the outpouring of support from Jean’s church family, the staff at Milestone Senior Living in Tomahawk, the compassionate care of Ministry Home Hospice, the Portage County Heath Care Center, and the many volunteers who brought cheer and pet therapy to Jean.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Grace Lutheran Church of Tomahawk.
