Jayne Schaefer Dean

JAYNE SCHAEFER DEAN Born 2.26.1954 Died 1.23.2024 Wife to Bruce, and mother to Andrew and Michael. Preceded in death by her parents, Reuben and Esther Schaefer. Survived by husband, Bruce; sons, Andrew, Louisville, KY and Michael (Ashleigh), Omaha. Sister, Julie (John) and brother, Tom (Linda). Brothers in law, Kevin (Torill Kove), Mark (Beth) and many nieces and nephews and goddaughters. She graduated Mason City High School in 1972 and became a Registered Nurse in 1976, continuing her education at University of Iowa with a BS in Recreational Therapy. She worked in pediatric offices in Omaha and was a long time nurse to Dr. Robert Woodford and Dr. Mel St. Germain. She retired in 2017 from Children’s Physicians West Village Pointe after 40 years in the nursing field. Jayne loved to travel and toured Europe with a friend after graduating college. Upon her return she spent a year in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands caring for patients in the hospital there. A lifetime of experiences with many stories. She and Bruce married June 5, 1982 in Mason City, Iowa. They raised two sons, Andrew and Michael, whom brought them much joy. Through their sons they were involved in many activities with church, school, sports, music, band trips, and drama. Trips to National Parks were often. They were active members at LCM and through the church they were instrumental in settling a group of young men from Sudan and a family from Bosnia. She was a member of Altar Guild for 30 years and attending weekly Bible study when she could. In 2010 she and Bruce started the LCM Community Garden which involved finding interested gardeners willing to break ground, grow veggies in family garden plots, and donate produce to those in need. Jayne believed in hand written notes, sending birthday wishes and thank you notes to the many friends who were so kind to her. She was a breast cancer survivor for over 18 years and an advocate for Susan G. Komen and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, raising tens of thousands of dollars for research and support. She became a Master Gardener after she retired and volunteered at the zoo and the H.O.P.E. Garden, always learning from her mentors and growing a variety of native plants for their own woodland gardens. She founded a Book Club in 2002, meeting monthly to catch up with friends and discuss the book of the month. As an avid bird watcher she looked forward to the spring migration of song birds. She participated in the Cornell Project Feeder Watch and counted birds thru out the winter months for several years. Jayne was passionate about collecting children’s winter coats each year since 2012, donating over 350 coats to the Open Door Mission, Project Hope and sending some to Ukraine during the conflict there. She enjoyed life and the beauty of God’s creation. The passing of a butterfly, sunrise skies and full moons, blue moons, old gibbous moons and sunny skies brought her joy and laughter. Jayne lived the following: Give me joy and laughter, to lift a weary soul; pour in me the compassion to make the broken whole. Give me gentle healing hands, for those placed in my care, a blessing to those who need me, this is a nurse’s prayer. In lieu of flowers, please consider the following memorial opportunities The H.O.P.E. Garden The Douglas-Sarpy County Master Gardener Program Breast Cancer Research Foundation Lutheran Church of the Master St. Croix Hospice

Jayne Schaefer Dean

February 26, 1954 - January 23, 2024