Jeannette (Abbott) Lovern

Joan “Jeannette” Lovern, age 66 years, of Germantown, Wisconsin, died peacefully in her beloved yellow house on Monday, October 24, 2022.

Jeannette was born on June 26, 1956 in St. Catherine, Missouri, to John and Betty Abbott. Jeannette always thought of herself as a small-town girl who was fortunate to eventually study at Harvard and Oxford. She began her love of education when her older sister would teach Jeannette what she had learned in school each day. Jeannette was a first-generation college graduate earning degrees in journalism and home economics from Northeast Missouri State (now Truman State University) in 1978. She was a wife and stay-at-home mother until 1997 when she earned a Master’s degree in education from Oklahoma University and a Ph.D. in education with an emphasis in multiculturalism from Capella University in 2000. During her graduate work, she was able to study at Oxford University during the summer of 1996 and during her tenure as a professor she participated in multiple workshops at Harvard University.

Jeannette began her career as an adjunct professor at William Woods University and North Central Missouri College during her graduate work. She then became a full-time professor at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. Jeannette then jumped at the opportunity of a lifetime to teach at the University of the Virgin Islands and lived in St. Croix for five years. Next, she continued her career at Eastern Kentucky University until taking a fully-online job for Northcentral University in order to be closer to “her grandbabies.” When Jeannette retired in 2018, she enjoyed additional time with granddaughters, drawing and painting, and driving her convertible around with the top down.

Those Jeannette leaves behind to cherish her memory include her sister Janice (Stanley) Goddard, children Joshua Lovern and Sarah (Thomas) Legear, grandchildren Ethan (Melanie) Lovern, Lucy, Sally, and Juliet Legear. She is further survived by three cherished nieces, other relatives, and friends.

In addition to her parents, Jeannette was preceded in death earlier this year by her dear family friend, Chris Hoskins, who certainly welcomed her in Heaven with one of his gigantic hugs.

Since she was a lifelong learner and professor to so many, memorials in Jeannette’s name can be directed to the scholarship fund at    https://www.germantowncommunitycoalition.org/support-us

Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Jeannette’s arrangements. Please consider signing our online guest book (www.myrhum-patten.com) to share your condolences with the family.