Jeanne Foote Gillenwater

Due to the current guidelines regarding public gatherings because of the COVID-19 virus and safety concerns, please use good judgment in determining the length of your visit or if you should attend.  Six feet of social distancing should be maintained and masks are required for the visitation and service.  There will be no congregating in the parking lot.

Jeanne Foote Gillenwater of Warsaw, Indiana ran into the arms of Jesus and was surrounded by family when she passed at 3:40 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at her residence at the age of 74. 

She was born on August 31, 1946 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Marjorie Tam (Lunsford) Foote and Richard Holt Foote.  She was married on December 21, 1968 to Randy Kay Gillenwater, though they divorced, they still shared the love of their daughter, Janine and all of their grandchildren. 

Jeanne was a 1964 graduate of Central High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana and received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Grace College.  She worked as a kindergarten teacher at Milford Elementary School in Milford, Indiana and later in life she worked for Kosciusko Family Medical Group from 2000 – 2011 in records and insurance.  Jeanne moved to the area in 2000 where she attended Calvary Baptist Church in Oswego where she very much enjoyed worshiping, and organizing the grandparent mentoring program at the church.  She was a great neighbor and made a point to know her neighbors, which she loved.  There were so many wonderful qualities Jeanne possessed… a humble lady who always chose others first and was a great advocate for others.  She loved to give gifts, was very artistic and crafty and she was the “Chocolate Chip Cookie Queen”!  Jeanne had a great smile to match her loving heart.  She genuinely loved people and was a quiet reassuring presence.  Most of all she loved her family and her grandchildren. 

She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter:  Janine (Matthew) Seese (Winona Lake, Indiana); three grandchildren:  Abigail, Nathaniel and Noelle Seese; honorary grandson, Zach; sister:  Julie (Phil) Steele (Warsaw, Indiana); brother:  Robert (Peggy) Foote (Dayton, Ohio); and many nieces and nephews.  She also leaves behind her special daughter, Darla (Todd) Eigenschink (Fort Wayne, Indiana) and her cat, Sophie that she loved.  She was preceded in death by her parents.           

Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana.  Jeanne’s life will be celebrated with a service at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, 1200 Kings Highway, Winona Lake, Indiana and officiated by Roger Grossman.  A graveside service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw.   

Memorial donations may be directed to Compassion International, 12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs, Colorado  80921; or to Intervarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, P.O. Box 7895, Madison, Wisconsin  53707-7895 please put in memo line Southern Minnesota Endowment Fund, and would be appreciated by the family. 

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