- Date Of Birth: September 21, 1956
- Date Of Death: June 19, 2017
- State: Colorado
Jean Krance September 21, 1956 – June 19, 2017; Aged 60 years, 9 months
In my own words, I would like to summarize Jean’s life and in particular, our lives together.
Jean Sue Gallup was born in Rapid City SD at Ellsworth AFB, to Robert and Patricia Gallup. She spent her childhood and as an adolescent as an ‘AF Brat’ for 18 years, accompanying her parents to various Permanent Changes of Station (PCS) including Amarillo TX, Lowry/Denver CO, Loring MA, Larsen AFB WA, Guam, Vandenberg, and Offutt AFB NE.
Jean was the absolute best match for me, in this universe. When I met her, I was a confirmed bachelor of 27. I went down in flames fast, fell into deep, true love, proposed marriage, and married her all in less than 11 months.
We met in the Chicago Bar in Omaha Nebraska, across from Mutual of Omaha. In the mid 1970’s, before computers, voicemail, answering machines, and cells phones, secretaries and management assistant positions were great career beginnings for young people, especially for, excuse me, drop dead gorgeous women. And the Chicago Bar was target rich for young people to gather. And my best friend Tom–his brother was the manager. We didn’t have to wait in line to get in on the busy nights. We went in the back door. And one night, the 31st of March 1977, I met Jean. I was instantly star struck and assimilated by this beautiful blond, that had the confidence in herself–like no other I had ever met.
Today is the 25th of July. 25 is one of our lucky numbers. So is 5. 5 squared is 25. We married on the 25th of February 1978 at Capehart Chapel on Offutt AFB. Add up 1,9,7,8 and you get 25! Father Blaise Cupich, a fellow classmate of mine in high school, was the priest who married us. The same Cardinal Blaise Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago. We were blessed with something special from the start.
I was the Engineer that transferred and PCS’d.
We would work together for the future in Colorado. Uncle Jimmy designed the Mountain house and Christopher and I built it on the weekends for 5 years in the 90s, while Mom could have peace and quiet studying. Jean would graduate from college, gain a Palace Acquire position and become a cost analyst, and climb the GS ladder. Air War College in-residence called for me at Maxwell AFB Alabama in 96/97. A Master’s that couldn’t be refused, and on the AF’s dime. Jean and Christopher stayed in Colorado. Their bonding became permanent and for the betterment of the family. A mother and her son could not grow any closer.
And Christopher and I had Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. And Mom said profoundly, that it was what kept us in a peaceful co-existence. Jean had to raise two dominant alpha-boys. Every year at our anniversary I remarked, all these years, you unfortunate girl, to have to put up with me….We had 39 anniversaries for me to try and get it right.
We started to divest the real estate in the late 90’s finishing the mountain house after 5 years and then started planning our dream house with Uncle Jimmy. That big house where we could both live, as the song said. It was finished in 2004. Christopher lived in it 2 years before going off for 5 years in college. He has now lived in the Mountain House for over 6 years. And as life goes, we became empty nesters. Enjoying life, career, and walking to the sunset together. Retirement came for both of us within 8 months of each other, and nearly two years after Christopher’s graduation. We had 37 and 39 years respectively.
For those of you who don’t know the details, Jean fought harder than most. She stood up to cancer time and again with determination. She fought the good fight. Knocked down, she got back up. Four medical operations and procedures, two chemo infusion regimens, and three oral chemo regimens. In one procedure alone, she spent 44 days in the hospital. Rocky Mountain Cancer Center and the University of Colorado cannot be thanked enough. And of course, just this past month, Pikes Peak Hospice. She/we received two 6 month-to-live advisories. The first, was nearly three years ago–when she submitted to new and special targeted oral chemo drugs with the University of Colorado. The second advisory was this past March. She has been mine and Christopher’s inspiration for this nearly 5 year ordeal. I do not know if I would have the strength to fight like she did. The prayers from friends, we thank you so much. Our prayers together, were multiple times daily. God shown His light to us all throughout the ordeal.
My goal as things became more apparent in the last 6 months or so, was for her to pass in our dream home. Our little piece of heaven already. With an angel living inside–Jean herself. And our anniversary of moving in the home was Father’s Day. She Passed the day after. 13 years in the home we built together. Longer than any home we had ever lived in. And 13 was always another lucky number. Jean made a true difference in this world. For all of us. Especially for us here today.
In both of our revised wills of 4 years ago, we requested cremation and to be organ donors. If you have cancer however, the only organs you can donate are your corneas. Her Brown eyes will live in someone, and her memory will last with me, until my life passes away and then I will spend eternity with her. As my sister has so aptly put of our existence on earth: we are all TDY here, waiting for the Big PCS.
I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words, how wonderful life has been, while she’s been in this world. I said to her, I love you, and that’s forever. This I promise from my heart. I couldn’t love you any better. I love you just the way you are.
Sounds of laughter, shades of life, are ringing through my open ears inciting and inviting me. Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns, it calls me on and on across the Universe.
I will follow that light and find Jean and God at the end of the rainbow. Nothing’s gonna change my world, heading toward that light and her, for our eternity together.
Chris Krance
