- Date Of Birth: October 1, 1924
- Date Of Death: June 9, 2007
- State: Illinois
Jean Wachtel, 82, of Freeport died Saturday, June 9, 2007 at St. Vincent’s Hospice, Indianapolis, IN, after a brief illness. Born October 1, 1924, in Columbia, MO., she was the daughter of Aris and Della (Clapp) Spires. She graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia, in 1945 with a degree in Social Work. Jean was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and Delta Gamma Sorority.
Philip Wachtel and Jean were united in marriage on June 5, 1948. She did post-graduate studies in Social Work at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and worked for the American Red Cross in St. Louis while Phil attended medical school. Later, in Freeport, she resumed her professional career and worked for the Freeport Housing Authority, retiring in 1990.Phil and Jean resided in Freeport for over 40 years.
Jean was an outgoing, community-minded wife and mother who loved meeting and talking with people. An active volunteer and past President of the Amity Society, she was instrumental in starting their Day Care and Learning Center for children in the early 1960’s. Jean enjoyed cooking and was well-known for her vegetable soup, baked beans, and pecan pies. She loved house boating and enjoyed fishing and serving gourmet meals to family and friends on the Mississippi River. Jean was an avid bridge player and belonged to several card clubs.
The Wachtels moved to Sun City West, Arizona, in 1996 where they resided until 2003 when they returned to Freeport. From October, 2006, until her death, Jean resided in Indianapolis.
Surviving are one daughter, Pat (Steve) King of Indianapolis, a son, Dr. Leon (Beth) Wachtel of Prescott, AZ; one brother-in-law, David (Sue) Self of Santa Rosa, CA, one son-in-law, Darcy Myers of Parker, CO, and nine grandchildren, Scott (Cortney) King of Chicago, IL, David King of Tempe, AZ, Sarah King of Branson, MO, Stephanie Myers of New York City, Warren Myers and Sean Myers of Boulder, CO, Courtney Wachtel of Flagstaff, AZ, and Brogan Wachtel and Bryton Wachtel of Prescott, AZ.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Phil, and one daughter, Peg (Wachtel) Myers.
