Jeanne W. LaBree's Obituary
Jeanne W. LaBree, 96, of Forsyth, passed away Thursday, September 1, 2016 at Decatur Memorial Hospital with her family by her side.
Jeanne was born April 20, 1920 in Macon County, Milam Township to Nate and Nona (Mount) Wise. She graduated from Macon High School in 1938, attended Chamberlain Vocational School in Washington D.C., Millikin University and graduated from the University of Illinois as a Registered Occupational Therapists in 1966.
Jeanne worked at War Production board in Washington, D.C., Western Flying Training Command in Santa Ana, CA, Executive Director and Therapist of Easter Seal Treatment Center in Decatur, Decatur Community Mental Health Center, Self Employed as a Health Care Consultant working in Skilled, Intermediate and ICF/D/D Nursing Homes as Consultant to Activities Social Services and Restorative Nursing Programs.
She was a member of professional associations such as Kickapoo District IOTA, AOTA, past member of IOTA Board, past president Kickapoo District and State Representative Special Interest Group on Geriatrics.
She was also a member of Sanner Chapel Methodist Church to 1948, First Methodist Church in Decatur from 1948-1970, Teacher and Superintendent of Primary Department Sunday School, Circle Leader and Member Administrative Board at First Methodist, Member of Grace United Methodist Church, Chair Missions, Church and Society Committees, Member Memorials Committee, M&M Sunday School Class, Lay Delegate Annual Conference, Past PTA President William Harris School.
She married Robert Sleeper in 1939. They divorced. She later married Alva C. Hipsher in 1970. He passed away June 19, 1996. She married Fred M. LaBree, Jr. on April 10, 1999.
She is survived by her husband Fred; one son, James R. (Melissa Burns) Sleeper of Ava Maria, FL; two step-daughters, Mary Hipsher of Decatur and Christy (Ben) Adkins of Oklahoma, City, OK; two grandsons, Dr. Joshua (Jamie) Sleeper and Justin and (Jessica) Sleeper; two step-granddaughters, Megan (Joshua) Sisk and Paige Wilson; step-grandson, Andrew (Karen) Wilson; three-great grandsons, Pierson James Sleeper, Joshua Barron Sleeper and Jordan James Sleeper; one great-granddaughter, Jada Marie Sleeper; one step great-grandson, Wilson Dean Sisk; one step great-granddaughter, Millie Paige Sisk.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Alva Hipsher; step-son, Robert Hipsher; three brothers, Robert M. Wise, Donald A. Wise and Earl H. Wise; and one sister, Grace M.H. White.
Funeral services to celebrate the life of Jeanne W. LaBree will be 11 a.m. Saturday September 10, 2016, at Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home before the service. Burial will be in Fairlawn Cemetery where the “Flight Home” ceremony will be held following the committal. Memorials may be directed to Grace United Methodist Church or Hickory Point Christian Village.
The family of Jeanne LaBree is being served by Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Avenue, Decatur, IL. View the online obituary and send condolences to the family at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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