Jean Criswell ended the battle with COVID February 9th at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs Iowa. The angel band has now taken her to dance with the Angel’s and Glorify the majesty of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, free of all the limits of this world. She was surrounded by new friends as she passed. Skip and Marilyn were able to say goodbye to her via a palliative care nurse with a video connection.
Deloris Jean Hatton was born to Ross and Irene (Seek) Hatton April 19, 1929. She had three brothers, Jerry Kunold, Bryce Hatton, and David Hatton. She spent her childhood in Omaha Nebraska and attended Benson High School. While her two older brothers, Jerry and Bryce served in the Navy in the pacific during WW-2, she worked in a factory packing eggs for the military effort as she attended high school. While in high school she met Duane Kempnich whom she married, and that union produced one son, Herald (Skip) Kempnich. While pregnant with her second child, a daughter, she came down with Tuberculosis, and lost the child; an event that affected her the rest of her days. She later married William Criswell and moved with her son to Oakland Iowa. Some years after William Criswell died, she moved to Council Bluffs in pursuit of a simpler life. Her final years were spent at Amelia Place in Council Bluffs where she found contentment, and a sense of duty taking care of the library there and assisting the staff with the residents. She became quite fond of the other residents, especially if they were military veterans; and talked about the staff as her friends. Her family took great comfort in hearing her say she was well taken care of and that Amelia Place felt like home. All her life she remained a life-long fan of The University of Iowa football and wrestling programs, and was a fierce defender of Hawkeye honor against Omaha news media.
She is survived by her son and his wife Skip and Marilyn Kempnich of Iowa City, grandchildren Brian Kempnich and his wife MeGan (great-grandchildren Demetrius Robert and Gia Hope) of Clive Iowa, and Bradly Kempnich and his wife Elizabeth (great grandchildren Saxa Bel, and Talia Katlyn) of Davenport Iowa, several nieces and nephews, and sisters-in-law Sharon Coy and Nancy (Gayle) Perkins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, brothers, and her great granddaughter Ada Eve Kempnich daughter of Brian and MeGan.
Special recognition should be given to Sandy Redshaw, who helped her walk back to sanity, and to Tamar Wheeler who was first her hairdresser, then her friend, then a spiritual mentor who helped her renew her faith in God. Jean talked to God a lot.
Services are pending at this time. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is assisting the family with arrangements.
