WILSON — Jean I. Galbraith, 85, of Wilson, passed away at her home on Friday, June 20, 2008.
The former Jean Isabelle Hammel was born Feb. 4, 1923, to the late August and Edith (Uehling) Hammel in Churubusco, Ind., the youngest of six children.
She married James M. Galbraith Nov. 21, 1942, in Flint, a marriage that remained faithful and Christ centered for 66 years.
She graduated from Beecher High School Class of 1941. Jean later attended Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor graduating from the nursing program as an LPN in 1970. She worked for Berrien General Hospital.
Jean and her husband Jim moved to the Wilson area in 1973. She was employed at Pinecrest Medical Care Facility as an LPN, retiring in December of 1985.
Jean loved her home and took meticulous care of it. She loved raking her yard, her flowers and her garden. Canning the harvest from her garden, and countless bushels of fruit was done with perfection.
As her health began to fail, her husband Jim put beautiful bird feeders outside the floor to ceiling windows of their living room so she could sit in her favorite chair and watch the vast variety of birds in their yard.
Jean loved music and enjoyed playing the violin. She was always looking for a reason to have the family together. She was an accomplished cook, and was known to serve quite a meal on almost empty cupboards.
Jean has done extensive traveling, almost all either with family or for family such as a new baby or a special occasion. Jean lived a full life and enjoyed many things, but her real love and passion she saved for her family.
Jean was a member of the Wilson Seventh Day Adventist Church, where she was head deaconess for many years. Her marked and well-worn Bible is an indication of her deep faith in her Lord.
Survivors include her husband, Jim of Wilson, and children, Sue (James) Pierce of Wilson, Janet (Herbert) Rau of Cedar River, Judith (Gordon) Buhler of Poulsbo, Wash., James (Carla) Galbraith of Benton Harbor, Mich., Sylvia Effner of Escanaba, Laureen (Jerry) Bauer of Menominee, Merry (George) Ryan of Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada., Don (Cindi) Galbraith of Kodiak, Alaska. Jean was also blessed with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, Jason; four sisters; and one brother.
Visitation is today, June 23, at the Anderson Diehm Funeral of Stephenson from 6 until 8 p.m. CDT. Visitation will continue Tuesday, June 24, at the Wilson Seventh Day Adventist Church, from 9:30 a.m. CDT until service time at 11 a.m. with Reverends Bela Kobor and Olan Thomas officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
