Jean May Marken

Jean May Marken, age 96, of Savanna, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Big Meadows Nursing Home in Savanna. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 11, at Law Jones Funeral Home in Savanna. Visitation will precede the service from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Savanna Township Cemetery.

Born on September 14, 1928, in Beloit, Wisconsin, Jean was the daughter of George and Esther (Mundt) Howard. A graduate of Beloit High School, she continued her education at Beloit College, where she was an active member of the Kappa Delta Sorority. On September 29, 1951, Jean married Gene Marken in Springfield, Tennessee. Their loving union lasted 64 years until Gene’s passing.

Jean dedicated her life to education, working as a full-time and substitute teacher for the Savanna and Thomson schools for 25 years. Her love for learning and her students left a lasting legacy in the classrooms she served. A woman of many passions, Jean found joy in camping and traveling. Alongside Gene, she visited all 50 states and five continents, nurturing a shared sense of adventure. She also took pleasure in gardening, especially tending her flowers, and was a skilled needleworker.

Jean remained active in her community throughout her life. She was a devoted member of the Community United Church of Christ and a participant in several organizations, including the Carroll County Retired Teachers Association, Carroll County Genealogical Society, Illinois Education Association, National Education Association, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, and Women of the Moose.

She is survived by her grandsons, James Schwarte and John (Amber) Schwarte; three great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Avrie, and Elijah; and her dear friend, Dallas Kosier. Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband Gene; her children Linda, Steve, and Julianne; her parents; her sister, Betty; and her three half-brothers, Manny, Merle, and Melvin Howard.