In Memory

Jean Blair

In Memoriam

Jean Blair

September 9, 1944 – June 17, 2020

 

Jean Blair passed peacefully on June 17th at St. Anthony's Hospital in Lakewood Colorado after a short illness. She was 76.

Jean was an amazing treasure hunter -- a family tradition.  She loved to hunt out great food, estate sales, plant sales, library book sales, and interesting people, places and ideas. She met Brian Christianson, the love of her life, while they both worked at the University of Iowa. Though she was a very independent woman, her heart was opened, and she and Brian married in 1995. They shared their varied interests and Jean was often heard to say, "If I hadn't met you, I wouldn’t have grown to love boats, motorcycles and dogs." 

 

Jean was a master gardener and everything she did reflected her creativity and artistic eye. Together Brian and Jean created amazing gardens and prairie landscapes in Iowa and Colorado.  Family was very important to Jean, and her sister Julia was her best friend.  Together they had many adventures – traveling, hiking and shopping – finding treasures along the way.  Julia says, “I loved being in her presence.” And Jean felt the same way.

 

Jean was born in Waterloo, Iowa to Francis George and Wilma Blair on September 9, 1944.  Her sister Julia was born two years later, and the family relocated to California when Jean was a child.  She was educated in California and graduated from the University of Calif at Berkeley.  She then received her Master of Arts in Librarianship from San Jose State University.  During her career she was a teacher, a librarian and a researcher both in California and in Iowa.  She skillfully researched, being the treasure hunter that she was, funding opportunities at the University of Iowa until her retirement.

 

A memorial is not being planned at this time out of consideration of Covid19, but please celebrate Jean's life in ways that are meaningful to you.  Rather than flowers, we ask that memorial gifts be directed to The Action Center, https://theactioncenter.org or the charity of your choice.  Tributes and stories can be shared soon at https://allstatescremation.com.

 

Jean’s energy and light will be missed by many. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we grieve Jean's passing and bless her as she moves into her greater yet to be.  We will all miss Jean.

 







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