Jean Nelson, age 84
of Chesterton, IN, passed away on July 6th, 2016. She was born on May 5th,
1932 in Chicago, Illinois to Harold “Jack” and Marian (Bovee) Hildebrand.
Jean is survived by
her daughters, Deborah (Darren) Farris and Edithe (Paul) Hahn; son, Gary
(Laura) Nelson; grandchildren, Jennifer (Craig) Horton, Kristopher (Alina)
Hahn, Lyndsey (Jeremy) Hooley, April (Dennis) Kelly & Sherry Nelson; great
grandchildren, Robert, Ryan and Karrigan Horton, Westin Hahn and Garret
Kelly; great great grandson, Matthew Horton; sisters, Eilene Bond, Linda
Aabey and Mary Armagast. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert
Edward Nelson; her parents, Harold “Jack” Hildebrand and Marian (Bovee)
Wright; and her brother, Buddy Hildebrand.
She was the
longtime owner of the Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop and Oz Museum. Jean “Mama
Jean” was the Founder and Creator of Chesterton’s Wizard of Oz Festival.
Jean loved the west, especially her trips to the Crazy Horse Monument in
South Dakota. After retirement she enjoyed traveling with her family.
Memorial Services
will be held on Sunday, July 17th, 2016 at 6:00 p.m., at Edmonds & Evans
Funeral Home, 517 Broadway, Chesterton, IN, 46304, with Pastor Jay Birky
officiating.
Memorial Visitation
will be held on Sunday, July 17th, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. until the time of
service at 6:00 p.m. Cremation services provided by Heritage Crematory,
Portage, IN.