Jean Margaret (Arndt) Ward, age 90, peacefully passed on Friday, May 1, 2020 at home
in Freeport, Illinois where she resided with daughter Jane and son Jim.

Jean Margaret was born in Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin on April 7, 1930, the second of two daughters of Henry Robert and Mary Ellen (Gorman) Arndt.  Jean married James Leroy Ward on May 21, 1949 in Peoria, Illinois.  Having met on a blind date they would have 56 amazing years together.  To this marriage came eight little souls, three of which grew to adulthood – Jane Lee Ward (April 1, 1950), Jerome Michael Ward (January 4, 1954) and James Joseph Ward (November 28, 1956).  The children Joyce Ann Ward (May 19, 1951) and Matthew James Ward (June 27, 1962) both passed at birth.

Jean Margaret born in Wisconsin moved to Peoria, Illinois at age 6.  She and future husband James Leroy Ward were together early on in second grade at St. Boniface Elementary School. For high school, Jean attended St Mary's Academy in Nauvoo, Illinois – Class of 1948.  In high school Jean began her lifelong use of her many musical gifts and talents.  She had parts in plays and sang in shows and played sax in the dance band.  She also played piano and drums.  She danced tap and ballet and taught baton.  She organized shows, taught choreography and in her senior year she directed her school orchestra.

Jean and Jim were residents of Cicero, Illinois from 1949 thru 1987.  During those years Jean was active as ever.  For many years, Jean played piano and Jim sang once per month at Hines VA Hospital "for the boys" – an effort that was very precious to both of them.  For West Suburban Jr Woman's Club she held offices of First Vice Pres. and President and was a Dept. Chair for the 6th District Illinois Federation of Woman's Clubs. For many years she served as Editor of the "A. D. Log", newsletter of the Atlantis Divers Club of the LaGrange YMCA.  She was awarded the only Life Membership to Atlantis Divers in 1962.
For 20 years she worked as a Secretary in the Dean's office of Morton East High School.  During the school years her musical gifts were continuously used to organize, direct, and choreograph shows at both Goodwin Elementary and Morton East.  She also taught dance and baton at a local studio and was director of the Morton East Drill Team.

In 1960 Jean and Jim purchased the lot on Washington Island, Wisconsin and began building their home which would become their life project and greatest joy.  As Jean described, it was their "pay check" house as work was only done when funds were available.  When the house was ready; they were both retired and moved to the Island in spring of 1987.  Many years of joy and activity were lived on the Island.  Jean volunteered several years in the Island School office – having the 1996 Year Book dedicated to her.
Again she volunteered her talents to coordinate shows, also teach routines, play piano for and perform dance/baton routines herself.  The Island home was put into the hands of very good people in 2005 who continue to take good care of the loving work it was.

In her spare time, Jean also enjoyed crochet, cross-stitch and puzzles.  There were cross-stitched Christmas stockings for Grandchildren and many Wedding and Baby blankets crocheted for family.  For many years Jean was known as the "Family Genealogy" lady – researching and creating the genealogy for all four families – Arndt/Gorman, Ward/Heuermann.  These genealogies were sent out to family members and updated regularly with the help of all the families.  During her years on the Island she also became known as the "Doll House" lady. Building the wood doll houses from bare kits, creating all the detail and beauty.  The "Village" now contains 14 amazing structures.

Jean is survived by daughter Jane and son Jim both of Freeport, IL.  Also surviving are her sister Lucille (Arndt) Umstead, brother-in-law John Michel Ward, 4 grandchildren by her son Jerry and among them eight great-grandchildren.  Jean's life was also blessed by a very large and very loving family of cousins, nieces and nephews.  Jean was preceded in death by her parents, husband James Leroy in 2005 and son Jerry in 2006.  In her own words Jean "lived a long and blessed life".

Due to the national virus restrictions there can be no Visitation and internment will be private.