Jean Ann (A'Hearn) Prestemon
Jean Ann (A’Hearn) Prestemon, 86, of Cary, NC, passed away December 28, 2024. A short prayer service was held Saturday, January 4 at Brown Wynne Funeral Home in Cary, NC. A service in Iowa is planned for spring 2025. In lieu of flowers feel free to donate to the Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA 50010.
Jean was born January 15, 1938, in Waukon to Norbert and Theresa A’Hearn, the oldest of five children, with one younger sister and three younger brothers. She was preceded in death by her parents (Theresa in 1984, Norbert in 1986) and three brothers: Patrick A’Hearn (2015) and Joseph (2017).
She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Dean R. Prestemon, also of Cary, NC; one brother, Michael A’Hearn of Waukon; and one sister, Mary Smith of Las Vegas, NV. She is further survived by six children: Gregory Prestemon and wife Mary of Kirkwood, MO, Lisa (Prestemon) Eberhart and husband Paul Eberhart of Cary, NC, Michelle (Prestemon) Seasly and husband James of Grand Rapids, MI, Jeffrey Prestemon and wife Heidi of Cary, NC, Julie (Prestemon) Laske and husband Les Laske, of Cary, NC, and Steven Prestemon and wife Jene Park of West Hollywood, CA; 15 grandchildren; 17-plus great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Jean and her siblings grew up in Waukon. She attended St. Patrick Catholic School where she graduated in 1955 and immediately began her college education at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, completing her freshman year. Jean and Dean married in 1956. Jean left college upon marriage and took on the role of a full-time mother to one, two and ultimately six kids. After her husband, Dean, received his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Iowa State University, she and Dean moved to St. Paul, MN, where Dean earned a Master of Science degree in Forest Products at the University of Minnesota.
In 1978, Jean went back to college and received a BA in Education at Iowa State University before accepting a Reading and English teaching position with with Sacred Heart Catholic School in Boone where she worked for the next 21 years.
Jean will be greatly missed by her husband, children and her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
