Jean Culver

Jean Ann Culver died at the age of 82 on Tuesday, June 7 at 7:46 a.m. in OSF Saint Mary Medical Center, attended by her first-born son, Sean. Comfort care was initiated a week before her death. Family and friends visited and sat vigil with her during her final days.

Jean was born in Moline, IL, on March 25, 1940, to Alice (Unger) and Arthur Franklin Clark, and was raised in Abingdon and Lake Bracken, IL.

She attended primary school in Abingdon, Brush Creek School near Lake Bracken, Silas Willard in Galesburg and graduated Galesburg High School on June 5,1958. She worked for the Intra State Telephone Company and the Research Hospital in Galesburg as a telephone operator. In her later years she worked at Lowe’s and had a craft stand at Bishop Hill.

Jean married James (Jim) Russell Culver of Galesburg at Corpus Christi Catholic Church on November 5, 1960. Jean and Jim resided in Galesburg until 1970 when they built a home in Wataga, Illinois, where they lived together until Jim passed away in 2003. Jean continued living there until her death. From 2008 until his death in 2019, Earl (Wes) Allen of Alexis, Illinois was her dear companion.

Jean believed and fully lived out her childhood values of gardening, appreciating nature, caring for family, crafting a beautiful home and practicing her Christian faith. Jean also joyfully and spontaneously expressed her creative soul, always busying herself sewing, making and decorating wedding cakes, and leading a seemingly endless parade of craft pursuits, including making decorative wreaths, appliqués and drinking cups, as well as other items. Jean was adept at learning new things which helped when she was overseeing and contributing to building the family home in Wataga. She successfully tackled both the plumbing and wiring.

She loved horseback riding with a loyal posse of friends, who called themselves The Rough Riders, at state parks around Illinois, She enjoyed more extensive continental travel with Wes. She also maintained numerous friendships around faith and crafts both online and in-person. Jean was a member of several faith communities throughout her life; notably Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Galesburg, St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Wataga, Wataga Congregational Church, and Alexis United Presbyterian Church.

She was bright, open, gregarious and maintained valued life-long friendships, often giving of herself to strangers. On several occasions, she opened up her home to those in need of a place to live. Her final words, repeated several times before she became too weak to speak, were “I have such a beautiful family.”

Jean is survived by her sister, Mary (Paul) Terzis of Northbrook, Illinois; her sons, Sean Russell (Michelle) Culver of Chicago and Christopher Arthur Culver; daughter, Angela Dawn (Michael) Montgomery of Galesburg. Jean is also survived by five grandchildren; Brooke Lynne, Logan and Tanner Montgomery, and Autumn and Austin Culver, as well as four great-grandchildren; Quillian, Lucian, Russell and Kai.

She suffered the death of one son, Andrew James, who lived February 22 - 24, 1969. She is also preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jim, and partner, Wes Allen.

In accordance with Jean’s wishes, no service or memorial will be held. Online obituaries, photos and opportunities to leave condolences may be accessed at: https://www.galesburg.com/obituaries/p0214407 and at mykeeper.com, or via mail to ‘The Culver Family’ at Jean’s home address.

Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences here on her memory wall.