Laurel ‘Jeanne’ Stephenson was born at Osage City, Kansas, March 29, 1945, one of seven children born to Chris and Ruth Sims Colstrom.  She died Saturday, August 13, 2022, at Lake Regional Medical Center, Osage Beach, Missouri.

Jeanne, as to how she was known by family and friends, grew up at Osage City, attended school and graduated high school with class of 1963 from Northern Heights near Allen, KS.  She was a nanny for several years before working as a clerk at the Hiawatha Wal-mart prior to working at the Golden Eagle Casino near Horton as a soft count supervisor for 6 years.  In recent years, she delivered prescriptions for Kex RX Pharmacy for a time.

Jeanne married Verle D. Stephenson, September 29, 1962 at Paola, Kansas.  They moved to Hiawatha in 1969 as he worked for Missouri-Pacific Railroad (now Union Pacific), based out of Falls City, Nebraska.  He died September 30, 2019. 

Survivors include her children: Tony Allen Stephenson (Carol), Rodney Duane Stephenson (Kim), Angela Jean Dimmel (Fred); a brother Tom Colstrom, 8 grandchildren:  Matt, Payton, Hunter, Samantha, Grant, Paige, Fred and Erica;   13 great-grandchildren:  Madison, Liam, Kylee, Rex, Arlo, Kenzie, Kaden, Jaely, Izzy, Sophia, Solomon, Clyde, and Ada Jane.

Besides her husband Verle, she was also preceded in death by her parents, brothers:  Jim Colstrom, Paul Colstrom, Jerald Colstrom, John Colstrom, sister Janice Colstrom Droegemeier and great-granddaughters Pacey Marie and Auria.

Celebration of Jeanne’s life is planned for 2:30 p.m. Sunday, August 21, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha.  Inurnment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha.

 The family will meet with friends one hour prior to services Sunday

Memorial contributions are suggested to Brown County Humane Society sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., 66434.

A special message or note of remembrance may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com