Jean A. Delano

Jean A. DeLano, 83, of Battle Creek, died Saturday, December 28, 2013 at Heartland Health Care. Jean was born July 31, 1930 to George and Laura (Hensell) Knoll. She graduated from LaPorte High School in 1948. Jean worked for the Kellogg Company, retiring in 1992, after 36 years of dedicated service.

Jean married Larry Jensen in 1948. The marriage ended in divorce. She married Lyle DeLano in 1973; he sadly preceded her in death in April 2013. Jean was an avid reader and together with Lyle enjoyed golfing, camping, traveling, and holidays with the family. Jean was a member of the Kellogg 25 Year Club.

Jean is survived by her three children, Terry (Larry) Yarger, Kurt (Denise) Jensen and Gary (Dawn) Jensen; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; five step-children, Steven (Susan) DeLano, Sallie (Michael) Miller, Peggy (Jeffery) Iler, Theresa (Timothy) Moss and Nancy (Steven) Fierke; and many step-grandchildren; two sisters, Dorothy Miller and Diane (Mark) Jerndt, and two brothers, Donald Knoll and David (Linda) Knoll. Jean was also preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Gerald Knoll and Melvin Knoll.

Visitation will be Thursday, January 2, 2013 from 6-8 p.m. and Friday, January 3, 2013 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, where funeral services to celebrate Jean's life will be Friday at 12:30 p.m., officiated by Rev. Robert G. Muirhead. Interment will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Those wishing to make memorial donations are asked to consider the American Heart Association. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.