Published: September 23, 2009 12:35 am      

Jean Marie Porter

March 8, 1930 - Sept. 20, 2009

Jean Marie Porter, 79, passed away peacefully while surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. She was born on March 8, 1930, in Berwyn, Ill., to Carl and Hazel Lovgren. Jean’s father passed away when she was 1, so her mother raised her alone through the Great Depression.

Jean attended Morton High School in Cicero, Ill., graduating in 1948, and then attended Morton College for two years, where she was editor of the yearbook and very active in radio, dramatics and debate. She met Glenn Porter, who was attracted to her vivacious personality, and the two of them married in March 1951. They moved to Mishawaka, where their three children were born, and then moved to Greendale, Wis., in 1959.

Bright, loving and energetic, Jean became president of the Greendale PTA and den mother of son David’s Cub Scout troop while working on her college degree. She graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a B.S. in education in 1964 and taught third grade at Highland View Elementary School in Greendale. Jean, a woman of faith, also served as Sunday school superintendent and as a Sunday school teacher. In 1970, she completed her master’s degree in educational administration and accepted a position as principal of Deerwood Elementary School, where she worked until moving with Glenn to Kokomo in 1976.

While living in Kokomo, Jean worked for a year as an assistant principal at Eastern Middle School in Greentown and then became principal of Western Elementary School in Russiaville, one of the largest elementary schools in Indiana with 1,500 students. Jean was a dynamic leader who demonstrated tireless devotion to her students and their families and to her staff members. In 1981, the Indiana School Boards Association awarded Jean the Lorin A. Burt Award for her outstanding contribution to education.

Following her retirement in 1985, Jean served as the coordinator for the Compeer Mental Health Program, delivered Meals on Wheels, taught an introductory education class at IU-Kokomo, and supervised student teachers. Additionally, she served on the Mayor’s Advisory Council for Handicapped Individuals and the Howard County Psychiatric Services Advisory Council, and was chairman of the Board of Education for her church. By this time, Jean’s nine grandchildren were arriving, and she reveled in spending time with them. Upon Glenn’s retirement from GM in 1990, Jean and Glenn moved to Tarpon Springs, Fla., returning to Indiana for five months each year to be near family.

Jean is survived by her husband of 58 years, Glenn Porter, Avon; son, David and wife Candace Porter and their five children, John, Anne and Andy Muller, and Ben, Kate, and Christine, East Troy, Wis.; daughter, Susan and husband David Nondahl and their twins, Eric and Tiffany, Middleton, Wis.; daughter, Karen and husband Thomas Hensler and their two children, Christopher and Laura, Avon; and several dear cousins.

Jean was a beloved and cherished wife, mother, cousin, and daughter; a devoted friend; and a remarkable educator. She will be greatly missed.

The family wishes to thank all of the staff at Lakeview Manor for their compassionate care for Jean over the past three years.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Conkle Funeral Home, Avon. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the services.

You are also welcome to visit www.conklefuneralhome.com, where you can view the obituary, sign the guestbook, post a memory of Jean, or leave a message for the family.