Jean Ann Shankey

Jean Ann Shankey, 87, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026. Jean was born on March 1, 1939, in Saginaw, Michigan, to Gene and Ann Wiecha. From an early age, she possessed an inquisitive mind and a deep appreciation for literature, history, poetry, and the arts-interests that would shape the course of her life. She earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Minnesota and later completed an associate degree in Legal Studies from the William Mitchell College of Law. Jean enjoyed a fulfilling career as both a legal assistant and a piano teacher, combining her sharp intellect with her lifelong love of music and learning. One of Jean's happiest moments came while working at Montgomery Ward, where she met the love of her life, Maurice Shankey. They were married on August 4, 1967, in Saginaw, Michigan, and shared nearly 53 wonderful years of marriage. Their partnership was built on mutual respect, common goals, laughter, and unwavering devotion. Together they created a home where music, books, lively conversation and activities, and family were treasured. A lifelong learner, Jean delighted in reading, traveling, scrapbooking, and studying history. She had a particular fascination with the history of Europe, especially Poland, and loved engaging in thoughtful conversations about the people and events that shaped the world. Her scrapbooking included comprehensive volumes of family history and personal chronicles for each of her children. An accomplished pianist and dedicated teacher, Jean found special joy in classical music, especially the works of Frédéric Chopin, whose Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 was the last piece she played and left open upon her piano. She found Chopin's music reflected the beauty, emotion, and elegance she cherished. She loved the timeless poetry of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Rudyard Kipling, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and many others. Throughout her life, she copied meaningful poems into her journals and notebooks, returning to them often for comfort and inspiration. Among those was W. H. Auden's Funeral Blues, whose words spoke to the depth of love and loss she understood so well. In the final days of her life, she shared Alfred Noyes' The Highwayman with her family-one last gift from a woman who believed that great literature helps us understand both life's joys and its sorrows. Above all else, Jean's greatest pride was her family and the life she shared with Maurice. His passing left an emptiness that never truly healed. While she continued to love and encourage her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, those closest to her knew that a part of her heart had gone with the man she loved so deeply. Their reunion is a comforting thought to all who loved them. Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Maurice Shankey, and her parents, Gene and Ann Wiecha. Jean is lovingly remembered by her children: James (Joni), Robert (Anne), Debra (Joel), Jeffrey, and Joseph (Karen). She was a devoted grandmother to Katie, Jessica, Andria, Jordan, Jacob, Rachel, Charlie, Erin, and Ann, and a proud greatgrandmother to Andrew, Aspen, Kaia, Camille, Jasper, and Elsie. Her legacy lives on in the music she shared, the books and poems she treasured, the conversations she inspired, and, above all, the family she loved beyond measure. "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." - Thomas Campbel

Jean Ann Shankey

March 1, 1939 - July 24, 2026

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