November 14, 1945 — June 20, 2018

Jean Diehl was a generous and devoted family member, a lover of animals, and a caring teacher of young children. She grew up in the community of Northwoods in St. Louis County with her parents Elsie and Roland, and her younger sister Diane. A graduate of Normandy High School, she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Missouri. Professionally she was a kindergarten and first grade teacher in the Ritenour School District for 30 years.

Jeanie’s love of animals and nature in many ways characterized who she was. As a child she had one dog and a parakeet. But as an adult she had multiple dogs and cats at the same time, and even added fish and frogs for a while. When she got her two beagles, she went right back for the third smaller one; when she got two black cats, she went back for the third to protect it, too. Only the best was good enough for her pets, especially the healthiest foods that she chose through her own research. A regular donor to the St. Louis Zoo Parents Program, she loved to visit the zoo to see “her” animal babies and the animals she had adopted for family members and special friends. This included her kindergarten children who had this experience as a part of her personalized science teaching over the years.

She truly enjoyed music—her mother’s wonderful piano playing and the family party sing-alongs growing up, choral groups in school, line dancing as an adult, and the Muny Opera.

Her niece Katie Rosson and great nephews Dominic, Caleb, and Brody brought her special joy. She treasured the time she spent with them, regularly driving from her home in Creve Coeur to visit them in Troy, Missouri. Jeanie loved all the holidays, and seeing their smiles at her favorites, Halloween and Christmas, was a treat. The feeling was mutual.

Services: St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 808 N. Mason, Creve Coeur, June 29th. Visitation 10:00am, service 11:00am. Donations appreciated to St. Louis Zoo, Humane Society of Missouri, American Cancer Society.