Jean Vandewater, 81, of Greenfield

Funeral Services: Will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Fairview Congregational Church, Rural Stuart with burial following in the Greenfield Cemetery.  A luncheon will follow the burial at the Olive Branch in Greenfield.  The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements.  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Open Visitation:  Will be held on Monday, December 18, 2023, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Family Visitation:  The family will greet friends on Tuesday, December 19^th, one hour prior to services at the Fairview Congregational Church, Rural Stuart.

Memorials:  In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Greenfield Public Library.

Jean Kay Rhine Vandewater was born April 3, 1942 in Winterset, Madison County, IA. First child of Willard Dale and Wilma Elizabeth (Eyerly) Rhine. She passed away on Wednesday December 13, at Greenfield Nursing and Rehabilitation & Heath Care Center in Greenfield under hospice care.

Jean grew up and attended school in Earlham, graduating high school in 1960. After high school, she attended 18 months of Nursing training and worked for Bell Telephone. Jean married Larry Joe Vandewater on March 31, 1967 in the Earlham Methodist Church, Earlham, IA. They moved to the farm in Harrison Township, Adair County, where they began their lives. Jean helped with livestock and farm work, working along side Joe doing extensive remodeling of their home and added several additions. She enjoyed working with flowers and gardening. Over the years she did a variety of crafts and needlework. After being interested in genealogy for years, she got involved researching her and Joe's family lines. She printed seven family books with the information, pictures and other material collected on the different family lines. Jean quilted for most of her adult life, some cross stitch quilting, but mostly material quilting. She would have someone quilt them, but eventually she got a longer arm quilting machine and finished them herself. Most quilts from early years to recent she would give away to family and donated many quilts to Iowa Comfort Foundation. Jean served as Worthy Matron in the Order of the Eastern Star in 1974 and 1983 and one year as Mother Advisor of the Order of Rainbow for Girls. Jean acquired her Private Pilot license in 1977 and Amateur Radio license in 1985.

Jean is proceeded in death by her parents, infant brother, Jerry Dwayne Rhine, sister Betty Lou Rhine Poland, brothers James Willard Rhine and Larry Wayne Rhine.

Jean is survived by: Husband Larry Joe Vandewater of 56 years, sister in law Sharon Rhine of Hackett, Arkansas, and brother in law Richard Poland of Craig, Missouri. Nephews- Bradley Rhine of Griswold, IA, Aaron Poland (Staci) of Henderson, IA, Bryce Poland (Jamie) of Treynor, IA, Kevin (Michele) Rosenbohm of Graham, MO, Mike (Marsha) Rosenbohm of Graham, MO, Dan (Kathy) Rosenbohm of Graham, MO. Nieces- Debbie (Tim) Miller of Hackett, Arkansas, Amy Poland of Patchogue, NY, Melissa (Mark) Wisniewski of Avoca, IA. Great nephews- Andrew Frieze, Brock Poland, Matt Rosenbohm, NickRosenbohm, Marc Rossenbohm, Cory Rosenbohm and Huckxli Poland. Great nieces- Hailee Poland, Berkli Poland, Macli Poland Hadili Poland and Megan Rosenbohm and other great nieces and nephews.