Jeanne was born in Palo Alto, California to Donald Francis and Lucia Margaret (Stoffels) Clark. Her sister, Dot, was born two years later. After their father passed away when Jeanne was seven, the family moved to San Francisco, where she grew up. She loved going to the corner bakery, visiting the library, roller skating, sunning at the beach, and visiting downtown where "you always dressed up". Being a Girl Scout and earning badges was a special memory for Jeanne. Growing up during the depression, she was thankful when a neighbor would bring over a fish on Fridays for their supper. Her absolute favorite childhood memory was spending holidays and summers at her wonderful grandmother's house on the Stanford campus. Mom would tell us stories of going to tea, riding bikes, playing Monopoly and tennis, and listening to her grandmother talk about the Clark family. Jeanne graduated from Lowell High School and then headed to Cal Berkeley where she joined Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and graduated with a degree in Political Science. She loved her Cal Bears and would go to the Big Game against Stanford year after year. "Go Bears!"
Jeanne met Stanley Whetstone at the Cal ski lodge on Donner Summit near Tahoe. They were married in Carmel-by-the-Sea and then lived in Berkeley while Stan finished his doctorate. Their first daughter was born in Berkeley, but soon the family moved to Los Alamos, NM, where Stan worked at the lab as a physicist. Three more children were born in Los Alamos and Mom always said, "Oh those were the best years!" She loved staying home and raising her four children. We remember the soup and sandwiches waiting for us when we walked home for lunch. Mom played tennis with her group of ladies and she and Dad enjoyed nights out with their many friends. During those years, our family also lived in Seattle, Vienna, Austria, and Gaithersburg, Maryland, where Dad worked as a physicist. Jeanne found friends and activities where ever she lived and was often our scout leader. Jeanne later went back to college to earn her secondary teacher certification and spent many years tutoring kids in English at the high school in Los Alamos, where the family home was kept despite moving away many times.
In later years, Jeanne lived in Ft. Collins where she was involved in tennis, garden club, symphony guild and book clubs. She was also a skier well into her eighties and took many trips to Europe, Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland, and all over the country. The family fondly remembers the many gatherings in her beloved house for birthdays, holidays or "just-because" when Mom would cook a delicious dinner which was enjoyed with conversation and laughter. Above all, Mom loved her family and the times we spent together.
The following is an excerpt from a poem by Amanda Bradley, which Mom would often quote in her cards to us: "How fortunate we are when we have relatives who love us; It makes the world a happy place to be. Few gifts in life will last as long or touch the heart as deeply as the very special gift of family!"
Jeanne is survived and missed by her four children, Karin Culter (Dave) Greeley, Kirsten Whetstone (Rich Bullough) Park City, Utah, Sally Stokes, Johnstown, and Steven Whetstone (Karen) Mill Valley, CA; also missing their dear "Jeannie" are grandchildren, Sarah Johnson (Aaron) Denver, Daniel Culter (Kitty) Cheyenne, WY, Sean Stokes, Cedar Rapids, IA, Connor Stokes (Brittany) Knoxville, TN, Ryan Stokes, Honolulu, Garrett Bullough (Natalie) Seattle, Kellen Whetstone and Kirsten Whetstone, Mill Valley and great-grands, Quinn and Carver Johnson, Weston and Bridger Culter, hand Cayden and Emmy Stokes. Also, Stan Whetstone, sister-in-law, Janice Troxler, nieces and nephews, Kimberly Hammond (David), Rennie (Scott) Cole, Jesse Couch, Geoff (Diane) Simonson, and Genevra Simonson.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Jeanne's greatest wish would be to love your family, mend any hard feelings and enjoy life every day! Please visit www.resthavencolorado.com for photos and to share memories and condolences.
