Authora Jean was born at the Washington County Hospital on October 22, 1928 to John and Mabel (Bush) Patterson. Jean attended Union Country School until moving to town. She graduated from Washington High School in 1946. Jean graduated from Mercy School of Nursing in Iowa City in 1949 and received her BNA in 1976 from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant. Jean began working at the Washington County Hospital in 1949 and retired in 1994 after 45 years of nursing.

Jean married Donald E. Baumert on November 6, 1949 at the United Methodist Church in Washington, Iowa. They later divorced. Jean raised six children while working and going back to school. She was a wonderful hostess and seamstress. Jean made all of her children's clothes. Her homemade cinnamon rolls and breads were the best! Among her many, many accomplishments she created hundreds of quilts, comforters, pillows and quillos. Many of her quilts, comforters and pillows were donated to Hospice of Washington County, the Y Children's Bazaar and the Ronald McDonald House. Jean made quilts for the Washington Historical Society and helped design and create the "Washington County" for the State of Iowa Quilt on display in Des Moines.

Jean belonged to many clubs and organizations over the years. She was a long time member of the United Methodist Church, Washington County Nurses Association and Piece Makers Quilt Club. Jean was also a Hospice of Washington County board member during its first years. Jean loved books and was an avid reader. She was a good source for Washington County Hospitals & Clinics history as well as the history of Washington County.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mabel Patterson; two brothers, Otto Paul (as a child) and Kenneth Patterson; one sister Donna Kleese; and one brother-in-law, Bob Kleese.

Jean is survived by six children, Gwen of Washington, Iowa; Karen of North Liberty, Iowa; Sara and husband Ira of Iowa City; Mark and special friend Lynn of Washington, Iowa; Tracy and Eric both of Washington, Iowa; ten grandchildren, Leslie (Thyen) Schaver and husband Aaron; Laura (Thyen) Jones and husband Anthony; Bryan Baumert; Nathan Baumert; John Starr; Emily Baumert; Abraham Wall; Patricia Wall; Rachel Baumert and Hannah Wall; nine great grandchildren, Keenan Thyen; Kolton Thyen-Pennington; Ian Schaver; Levi Baumert; Evan Schaver; Rashawn Thyen-Jefferson; Cedric Baumert; Emma Baumert; D'Anthony Thyen-Jefferson; one brother, Jay Patterson of Wellman, Iowa; one sister-in-law, Jo Patterson of Washington, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews; one aunt Helen Kammerlin of St. Louis, Missouri; her special in-laws, Harry and Frances Baumert of Sigourney, Iowa; Marilyn Van Fleet of North English, Iowa; Darlene and Bill Street of Gladbrook, Iowa; Margaret Burk of Bucklin, Missouri; Eula Baumert of Pensacola, Florida; Loretta and Art Striegle of Sigourney, Iowa; Becky Baumert of Iowa City, Iowa; Dennis and Judy Baumert of Keota, Iowa; Larry and Connie Baumert of Marion, Iowa; Gene Baumert of Keota, Iowa; and their children and families.

Celebration of life services will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2011 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington with Phillip Emmert officiating. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home. Interment will take place in the Elm Grove Cemetery. A memorial has been established to Hospice of Washington County. Online condolences may be sent for Jean's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .