Genevieve Helen McDowell Ziegeldorf, age 90, of Olivia and formerly of Lakefield, MN died peacefully on January 10, 2015 at the Golden Living Center in Olivia. Funeral services are Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Lakefield with Pastor Kathy Brandt officiating. Burial will be next to her first husband in Silver Lake Cemetery, Lake Park, Iowa. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday at Dirks-Blem Funeral Home in Olivia and continues at the church for one hour prior to the funeral. Genevieve Helen McDowell Ziegeldorf was born January 10, 1925 in Langdon, Iowa, to Ralph and Eva (Jordan) Ginger. She graduated from Lake Center High School and then went to Iowa Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Her first job was teaching at a one room school house. She then taught in Lake Park, Iowa, where she met her first husband James W. McDowell. To this union came a son James J. and a daughter Jill. Jean, as she was known, also taught in Sioux Valley, MN, and then in Lakefield, MN. She was named a Teacher Of The Year there in 1975 which she was very excited about. Jean devoted many hours to her students stressing the importance of reading. In 1984 James died and in 1987 Jean retired. She enjoyed traveling and started spending winters in warmer states. One summer while at a dance she met her second husband Richard "Butch" Ziegeldorf and they married on June 27, 1992.
Jean enjoyed baking, growing roses, reading, volunteering, and was active in her church. She was well known for her love of chocolate. Most of all her family was her greatest love. In 2009 Jean and Butch moved to Parkview Assisted Living in Olivia and then due to declining health she moved to the Golden Living Center in January of 2012.
Jean is survived by her two children: James and Jill; her six grandchildren: Michael, Christopher, Jennifer, Emily, Brent and Scot; 11 great-grandchildren; Ainsley, McKenna, Drake, Jackson, Maya, Adalynn, Eli, Ellie, Wyatt, Mikayla and Finn; two sisters: Charlotte and Theresa; as well as by many nieces and nephews.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, and three siblings: Gertrude Kabrick, Robert Ginger, and Dwayne Ginger. Blessed Be Her Memory.
--dirksblem.com