Jeanette Corinne Goedeke... Age 87

Memorial: 1st United Methodist Church of Osawatomie or the United Methodist Committee on Relief

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Jeanette Corrine Goedeke age 87 of Osawatomie, KS died Wednesday July 20, 2022 at Olathe Medical Center.

Jeanette was born December 14, 1934 in St Louis Missouri. She was the youngest of three born to Arthur Louis and Corrine Aline ( Helgenberg ) Goedeke . When Jeanette was 4 ½ years old the family moved to Albany NY. When she was a junior in high school the family moved to Chicago, IL. Jeanette graduated from Calumet High School in 1952.

In 1954, Jeanette graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor’s Degree. She then earned her master’s in Christian Education from Scarritt College in Nashville, TN in 1958. Jeanette then worked 12 years as a Church and community worke r under the board of Missions of the Methodist Church. She served two areas in New York, one in Wisconsin and finally with the Indian Mission Conference in Oklahoma until 1970. She then moved to Lawrence and attended the University of Kansas and earned her Masters in Social Work in 1972. Jeanette then went to work at Parsons State Hospital for two years until transferring to Osawatomie State Hospital in 1974. Jeanette continued to work as a social worker for 24 years until she retired in 1998.

She was a member of the First United Methodist church of Osawatomie, church choir, United Methodist Women, URW Class, Member of Am. Assn. of University Women, Former member of Business & Professional Women. Jeanette was a church liaison for Morning out for Mothers, Kansas Guardianship Program, Senior center, choir director and chime choir director. She was also a former member of the Osawatomie Community Band (Band of Oz) and the New Horizons Band.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents, o ldest brother Arthur L Goedeke Jr and m iddle broth er: Richard C Goedeke .

She is remembered by her nephew Robert Goedeke (children: Samantha, Jeremy, Andrew) , niece Kimberly (Doug) Hillman (children: Teona , Tiara, Tyler) , niece Patricia (Tim) Sexton (children: Abby, Caleb) , niece Anne (David) Crandall , nephew Arthur (Debby) Goedeke ( children: Marcy, Matthew) . Along with the many friends that she made over the year s in the church and at the state hospital.

Jeanette was a Christian, humanitarian, philanthropist, independent woman, musician, loving family member and loyal friend. She started Sunday Schools, directed choirs and encouraged youth and made lasting friendships all over the U.S.  Her address book at the end of her life included friends in eight different states from Oregon to New York.

Jeanette’s faith was the guiding force of her life, leading her to speak out against the wrongs she saw and to work to correct them. Never pushy, Jeanette would think her position through thoroughly before stating it with compassion and clarity.  One friend stated that Jeanette talked the way most people write: with forethought and in complete , complex sentences.

Jeanette gave generously .  She gave of her time.  She gave of her work.  She gave of her money.  Jeanette supported over a dozen charities quietly and with no expectation of recognition .

Jeanette was told she would be blind by the age of 12.  She learned Braille to be prepared and was always grateful for the many surgeries and treatments that allowed her to keep her sight.

Being an independent, single woman, Jeanette was passionate about women’s rights and problems.  She was a leading member of women’s organizations and always voted.  Her advance voting ballot was delivered to her on the day she passed .

As a youth, Jeanette played the violin. When she joined the Band of Oz, Jeanette first played the bell lyre.  When the band needed a base drummer, Jeanette played that .  When they needed a snare drummer, Jeanette learned to play snare and took lessons to make sure she was doing it the right way.  She was 60, a life-long learner.  Jeanette said that beating those drums helped to relieve the tension built up from her job and she became what the band considered a rarity – a dependable drummer.

After Jeanette retired, she traveled with many group excursions and to the Chicago area for family celebrations. Her favorite trips were those to meet her brothers in Branson.  Though they lived far apart from each other, they enjoyed time spent together most of all.

Friends of Jeanette know that long talks on the phone were always ended with Jeanette saying “Bye for now.” Jeanette enjoyed sleeping late and tried to make appointments in the late morning or afternoon.  She was a little grumpy until she had her first cup of coffee. She loved her cats and their antics.  She collected cat figurines and angels.  She loved peanut butter Sundaes from Dairy Queen. She always said “please” and “thank you.” She loved to see the snow sparkle on the trees in winter.  She seemed to never feel cold .

Jeanette was not perfect, but she tried.  Jeanette, we will miss you.

Bye for now.