Jeanne Claypool

Jeanne (Andree) Claypool passed away at Sanford Hospital in Bemidji on Saturday, March 31, 2012. Jeanne, the wife of the late Jim Claypool, was born on July 24, 1927 at Red Lake Hospital and raised in Alaska Township of Beltrami County near Island Lake. She was the daughter of Ivan “Happy” Andree and Cora Andree.

Jeanne was a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother and aunt. With her gentleness and kindness she was particularly special to her dozens of nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors and all of their families.

Jeanne graduated from Bemidji High School in 1944 and received a teaching certificate and degree from Concordia College. She taught elementary school in Sheyenne, North Dakota before marrying Jim Claypool, also of Beltrami County, on his return from the Pacific in WWII. Their first son Rick was born in 1948 and Jim re-enlisted and left to serve in Korea in 1950. As a young mother Jeanne faced the difficult challenges of raising a child with a husband away at war.

As the wife of a school teacher and later school principal, Jeanne was often faced moving and rebuilding a new household as the family relocated a number of times. Jeanne’s caring and compassionate nature will long be remembered in the many communities to which she and Jim moved throughout northern Minnesota and North Dakota. She often worked as a substitute teacher and also worked at Sears in administration in Fargo. Over the years, they made their homes in St Cloud, Kelly Lake, Bemidji, Red Lake, Big Falls, West Fargo, Park Rapids and then to Mahnomen where Jim retired. In 2005 Jim and Jeanne moved back to Bemidji, close to their very large extended family, and lived in Vista North until ill health made it necessary to move to Trillium care center.

Jeanne’s favorite place to call home was the Leech Lake cabin where they spent 35 summers, next door to dear friends Hap and Thelma Haenfler.

Jeanne is survived by her son Kim (Carol Schmidt) of Pelican Rapids, Debbie (Michael) Cavitt of Minneapolis, Joel (Barbara Johnson) of Fort Collins, Colorado, daughter-in law Shirley Claypool, sister Sharon Smith, brother David (Nancy) Andree and sister-in-law Beverly Andree. Jeanne’s grandchildren include Melissa (Brian) Hannem, Richard Claypool, James Rothschadl, Kurt Sylvan and Anneke Claypool and great grandchildren Kayley and Brady Hannem. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews and all of their families.

Jeanne was preceded in death by Jim, her husband of 64 years, her son Rick of Bemidji, as well as her parents and brothers; Howard, Earl, Jack, Rod, Bob and baby sister Rose Marie.

The family would like to give special thanks to all who cared for Jeanne in the last year at Trillium and to the extraordinary Dr. W. L. Chan at the Bemidji Clinic. Particularly we want to thank our dear Aunt Sharon Smith, of Puposky, Minnesota, Jeanne’s sister and best friend, for being there for Jeanne most every day, through good times and bad.

Jeanne will be missed. She was truly a unique person with a quietness and patience and caring that warmed the hearts of those she knew.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 7, 2012 at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home with Rev. Derek Claypool officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, April 6, 2012 at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Alaska Township Cemetery, Island Lake. Lunch will be held at the Seven Clans Red Lake Casino one mile north of the cemetery.