Jean Mellblom

Jean Mary Mellblom passed away January 3, 2013 surrounded by her children. A Memorial Service for Jean will be held Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 1:00 PM at the Lafayette Public Library, located at 775 W Baseline Rd, Lafayette, CO 80026. Jean was the beloved mother of nine and the honored 'Mother of Public Art' in Lafayette, CO. Jean was born December 14, 1927 to Leo V. and Mable J. (Cauwenbergh) Gannon in Green Bay, WI. She always felt close to her native Wisconsin. She grew up in Green Bay and received her Bachelor Degree of English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1949. She began her teaching career in Tomahawk, WI. As her children grew, she returned to teaching as a devoted preschool teacher in Libertyville, IL. She earned her Masters of Education from the University of Colorado-Boulder and taught Special Education in a Commerce City, CO middle school. Jean was a devotee of both poetry and opera. Her sense of humor and spirit touched everyone she met. Jean married Warren A. Mellblom in 1950 in Green Bay, WI. She and Warren moved to the Boulder area in 1975 from Libertyville, IL. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Mabel Gannon, her wonderful husband Warren in 1992 and her firstborn daughter Sarah Ann in 1956. Jean is survived by her brother Tom Gannon (Jean) and her eight children: son John M. (Debra); daughter Clare S. (Michael) and grandchildren Julia Marchelya (David) and Eleanor S.; daughter Laura M. (Robert) and grandchildren Andrew and Madeline; son Peter M. (Lynne) and grandchildren Chloe, Sophia, Ruth and Warren; daughter Martha M. (Robert); son Joseph M. (Susan) and granddaughter Rachel M.; and son James M. Jean is celebrated every year when the 'Jean Mellblom People's Choice Award' is awarded to a sculptor in Lafayette, CO. Donations in Memory of Jean Mellblom may be made by check to ARTS!Lafayette. Please mail checks to P.O. Box 704, Lafayette, CO 80026 and include Jean Mellblom Memorial S.O.F. in the memo line. Questions may be addressed to Susan Booker 303-665-5588 x 3353 or susanb@cityoflafayette.com