Jeleen Schweinefus

Tuesday, December 12, 2017 9:31 pm

Jeleen Schweinefus, 83, formerly of Ossian, died Nov. 30, 2017, at Life Care Center, Las Vegas, Nev. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Stavanger Lutheran Church in Ossian, with Rev. Terry Landsgaard as the officiant. There will be a one-hour visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. before services at the church Saturday. Interment will follow at Stavanger Lutheran Cemetery, Ossian. Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Ossian is helping the family with the arrangements.

Jeleen Mae was born March 29, 1934, to Lester and Margaret (Schlee) Kipp, in Fayette County. She attended country school in the area and graduated from Ossian public school in May 1952.

Jeleen was united in marriage with Vaylard Schweinefus in June of 1952 at the Stavanger Lutheran Church south of Ossian. To this union four children were born. They farmed outside of the Ossian area until 1981. While farming Jeleen also began working at the Postville hospital, and then began working at the Ossian Senior Hospice. She and Vaylard sold the family farm and moved to Rock Springs, Wyo., where they owned and operated a carmel corn shop until 1992. Jeleen continued working and operating the shop after her husband’s death in 1988. After the sale of the shop she went back to working as a CNA at the Sweetwater County Hospital. After a short time away from Wyoming she returned and began work at a correctional facility in Sweetwater County as a cook. Jeleen did this for about two years. She then found work at the Southwest Rehabilitation Center for the mentally handicapped. Jeleen also worked at JC Penny’s. In 2005 she moved to California to live with her daughter Denise (Schweinefus) Harris and her husband Tony. While there she worked at the Pizza Galley on the naval base.

Before leaving Iowa Jeleen was active in the church, serving as a Sunday school teacher and Bible School teacher for 18 years. She was ACLW president for four years and also education secretary for a number of years and in other areas as needed. Jeleen loved people and working with and caring for people in the community gave her great pleasure. She always loved coming back to Iowa and visiting the people and places she loved.

Jeleen is survived by her children: Raelan Schweinefus of Mitchellville, Darla (Schweinefus) Harris of Las Vegas, Nev., Denise ( Schweinefus) Harris of Lemoore, Calif. and Darren Schweinefus of Haines, Alaska; a sister, Betty Helgerson of Golden Valley, Ariz.; six grandchildren: Vanessa (Schweinefus) Foley of Missouri, Kayla and Jorden Harris of Lemoore, Calif., Allegra Harris of Las Vegas, Nev., Adam Harris of Killen Ala. and Hazel Schweinefus Haines, Alaska; five great-grandchildren: Quinn Foley of Missouri, Autumn and Jesse Floriendo of Las Vegas, Nev. and Matthias and Theliea Helms of Lemoore, Calif.
Jeleen was preceded in death by her husband, Vaylard Schweinefus, in 1988; her brother, Billie Kipp, in 1994; mother, Margaret Kipp, in 1995; father, in 1975; mother-in-law, Alice Schweinefus, in 1980; and her father-in-law, Edward Schweinefus, in1988.