Jean (Kono) Meyer

Jean Meyer, 89, of Newton died on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at her home.  A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, November 7, 2025, at Newton Union Cemetery.  Memorials to Lucy’s Pet Pantry or an Animal Rescue League of the Donor’s Choice may be left at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.

Jean, the daughter of Wendell and Frances (Emery) Kono, was born on May 27, 1936, in Newton.  She grew up in Newton and then married Norman “Shorty” Meyer on February 18, 1956, at the Wittemberg Church in rural Newton.  Jean worked at the Vernon Company until the couple started to welcome children into their family. Through Norman’s work as a farmhand, the family would live in the Albia, Laurel, Mingo, and Baxter areas before returning to Newton around 1970. Jean loved taking care of kids and turned that love into a 35+ year career as an in-home day care provider. She also enjoyed reading, baking and cooking, watching game shows, sewing, and doing crafts, including stained glass.  Jean also had a gift for remodeling and loved taking something old and making it new again.  Her green thumb made Jean a natural in raising a garden and taking care of her house plants, especially her Christmas Cacti.

Jean is survived by daughters, Beth Hardenbrook of Newton, Brenda (Leo) Breckenridge-Hawkins of Kearney, Missouri, Kelly (Randy) Lange of Newton, and DeDe Blom of Newton; her grandchildren, Dustin (Robyn) Breckenridge, Miranda (Mike) Tuttle, Tyler (Amanda) Hardenbrook, Ashley Hardenbrook, Desiray Lange, Kaylee (Casey) Breese, and Addy Blom; great-grandchildren, Ashley, Tucker, Jackson, Caden, Caleb, Carter, Carson, Rylee, Bowen, and Archer; siblings, Judy Conn, Wendy (Don) Crady, and Sally (Terry) Berger, all of Newton; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Norman; daughter, Lynn Meyer in 1976; son-in-law, Ron Hardenbrook; granddaughter, Lindsey Hardenbrook; and siblings, Evelyn Petermeier and Leroy Kono.

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