Jean Rosalie Royer, 91, passed away on Nov. 18, 2024, at Azria Health Rose Vista in Woodbine. She was born March 22, 1933, in Neola, to Clarence and Tena (Wohlers)Thomas and grew up on farms in the Neola, Beebeetown, Missouri Valley and Modale area. Jean graduated as valedictorian from Missouri Valley High School in 1951. After graduation she moved to Omaha and worked at Mutual of Omaha. Jean married Lynn “Minnie” Royer on Sept. 5, 1956. To this union three children were born, Dan “Curly”, Julie and Jim. Lynn and Jean moved to Woodbine and opened Royer Body Shop and later, Royer Hardware. Jean was the bookkeeper for both businesses while raising their three children. She loved gardening, tending her flowers and yard work. Lynn and Jean belonged to card club for many years. She enjoyed spending time with her family and attending school functions and sporting events of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Jean enjoyed meeting her friends downtown for coffee and conversation, watching the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, NBA and WNBA basketball, and the Nebraska women’s volleyball team.
Lynn and Jean were animal lovers, having adopted many dogs and cats through the years. They enjoyed watching the birds and squirrels that came to the feeders. They loved traveling and were particularly fond of the drive through the Blue Ridge Parkway and historical sites, including Gettysburg, Washington, DC and Quantico, Virginia, where Lynn was stationed while serving in the Marine Corps. Jean was a member of First Lutheran Church in Missouri Valley for more than 70 years. Jean was able to live in her home for more than 91 years. She was excited to renew her driver’s license just before her ninety-first birthday. She enjoyed the freedom to be able to drive downtown to the bank, post office, and grocery store. She moved into assisted living in August and then into skilled nursing in November.
Jean was preceded in death by Lynn, her husband of 62 years who passed away in 2018; parents; and siblings and spouses, Helen and William McIntosh, Bernice and Richard Hansen, William J and Betty Thomas, Shirley and Ira Golden and infant sister Mildred Thomas. Jean is survived by her three children, Dan “Curly” Royer and his wife Sharon of Woodbine, Julie and her husband Mike Kleffman of Harlan and Jim Royer and his wife Jayna of Woodbine; grandchildren, Jill Royer, Jeana (Ryan) Matcha, Justina Royer, Kylie (Tony) Velazquez, Craig Royer (fiancé Nicole Miller) and Reid Kleffman; nine great-grandchildren, plus one on the way; and many other family and friends.
A funeral service was held on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, at First Lutheran Church in Missouri Valley. Pastor Joseph Hanson presided over the service. The musical selections were “Go Rest High on That Mountain” by Hadley Thomas and “Be Not Afraid” by Robert Kochis. The honorary pallbearers were Lyle McIntosh, Tom McIntosh, Dick Hansen, Brian Hansen, Kent Thomas and Bruce Thomas. The pallbearers were Jill Royer, Jeana Matcha, Justina Royer, Kylie Velazquez, Craig Royer and Reid Kleffman. Jean’ s final resting place is at the Woodbine Cemetery.
Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine was in charge of arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
