Jean Minola

Jean Minola, 91, of Wakefield, NE died on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at the Wakefield Health Care Center in Wakefield, NE.  Due to covid restrictions, private family services will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at the Wakefield Health Care Center in Wakefield, NE.  The memorial service can be viewed at the following link:  https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=1108788982977196&ref=search   Bressler – Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home of Wakefield is in charge of the services.  Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation.

Jean was born on April 10, 1930 in Scottsbluff, NE, the daughter of Walter and Leila (Carpenter) Chinn and was raised in Wakefield, NE.  She attended and graduated from Wakefield High School in 1948.  Following studies at Wayne State College, she moved to San Francisco and worked as a keypunch operator.  She met Norman Minola at the Methodist Church where she sang in the choir.  Jean and Norman were married in Council Bluffs, IA on December 29, 1957.  To this union three daughters were born, Diane, Mary and Leslie.  The family traveled around the United States with Norman’s job until settling in Wakefield in the 1970’s where she and Norm owned and operated the True Value Hardware Store. Jean was a longtime member of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Wakefield.  She enjoyed gardening, music, Bible study and her beloved cats and was devoted to her family.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Norman; daughters, Diane (Rob) Kusmer of Granger, IN, Mary (Wayne) Rastede of Allen, NE, Leslie Minola of Wakefield, NE; grandchildren, Rachel Kusmer, Stephen Kusmer, Daphne Kusmer, David Rastede, Ross Rastede (fiancé Lauren Lenox), Amber (Kyle) Sperry, Candice Rastede; two great grandchildren, Kyler and Blake Sperry.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Leila Chinn and two sisters, June Rhodes and Dorothy Boley.