Jeanne Marie Whitehead

Jeanne Marie Roggenhofer Whitehead was born July 14, 1921 in Mulhouse, France to Valentine and Helene (Lothimar) Roggenhofer and passed away on January 18, 2013 in Norman, OK. At the end of WWII she worked as an interpreter for the American Red Cross at the Swiss Leave Center in Mulhouse where she met an American GI, Everett Eugene (Gene) Whitehead. They were married in Mulhouse in December, 1946. Jeanne came to the U.S. on a ship of War Brides. She arrived in New York where she boarded a train alone and travelled to Chicago where she was met by Gene and his brother, Lee. They then made their way to Cozad, Nebraska, where they spent their married lives and raised their two children, Mimi and Steve. Jeanne worked briefly at Sullivan""s Department Store in Cozad until Mimi was born. She then worked hard as a homemaker and mother to Mimi and Steve until 1968 when she opened her own shoe store, Jeanaud Shoe Boutique. She and Gene operated the shop until their children completed college. Jeanne loved baking, especially chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon rolls, which she generously shared with members of the community, family and friends. She also loved to play bridge and was a member of various clubs and duplicate bridge tournaments. Jeanne was a faithful member of the American Lutheran Church in Cozad where she made many lifelong friends and donated time in support of others. Jeanne maintained her French accent until the end and never forgot her French heritage but to her, home was with her family and friends in Cozad. Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Gene. She is survived by her brother, Fernand Roggenhofer (Betty), sister, Mimi Roggenhofer Risch(Antoine), her daughter, Mimi Whitehead Harm, son, Steve Whitehead, son-in-law, Nick Harm, daughter-in-law, Heidi Whitehead, grandchildren, Matt Whitehead (Kate), Nickolas Harm( Angela), Megn Harm Sparkman(Joseph), Lindsey Whitehead, Blake Whitehead, step-grandchildren, Courtland Trimm, Christopher Trimm, Joshua Trimm, and great-grandchildren, Gray Sparkman, Boyd Sparkman, Nora Meier-Person, Oliver Trimm and Annabella Trimm. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 10 am at the American Lutheran Church in Cozad, Nebraska. Inurnment will be held at the Ft. McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell prior to the service. Memorial donations can be made to the American Lutheran Church, 200 E. 12th Street, Cozad, Ne. 69130.