Jayne C. Pheiffer

Jayne C. Pheiffer, 103, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Jayne was a remarkable woman and leaves a legacy of family, service, art and faithfulness.
Jayne was born on December 18, 1920, in Ambia, IN to Archibald B. and Elsie E. (Schurman) Cowan. She was a graduate of Peoria High School, Class of 1938, and went on to achieve her Bachelor's Degree in Education at the University of Illinois and her Master's Degree from the University of Chicago. Jayne was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served in World War Two as a Control Tower Operator and earned her pilot's license. She later worked as an elementary teacher in Peoria, IL, Park Ridge, IL, Saginaw, MI, and later worked at Central National Bank for 11 years, retiring as Vice President of Human Resources.
Jayne devoted herself to her community for her entire life. She was elected to the Saginaw, MI school board in 1960 -the first women to hold the role -and served until 1964. After relocating to Rockford, she served on the steering committee for RVC's Learning in Retirement and served on the boards for Mendelson Club, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, AAUW, Rockford Women's Club, Rockford Art Association, Rock River Council of Girl Scouts, YWCA and was a former tutor for the Rockford Area Literacy Counsel. Jayne was a faithful Christian who believed that a more tolerant, peaceful world was possible. She was an active member of SecondFirst Church and over the years served as an elder, deacon, church school teacher and superintendent, and liturgist.
In addition to Jayne's many investments in others, she was also an avid musician, reader, crafter, and explorer. Throughout her long, active life, she studied piano, violin, hand bells, sculpture, quilting, woodworking, painting, fiber arts, handwriting analysis and travelled the globe. She enjoyed a good crossword puzzle, game of bridge, or boardgame and especially excelled at anything involving a great vocabulary and quick wit. A lifelong lover of animals, Jayne usually had at least one dog or cat keeping her company as she welcomed friends and family into her beautiful home, filled with mementos of her travels and her own works of art.
Jayne believed firmly in the power of kindness - it was a virtue that suffused her interactions with others and that she wished to see more of in the world. Friends of Jayne - and there were so many - could count on her compassion, integrity, patience and good conversation. She was also an excellent correspondent, staying in touch with friends and family around the world via letters and postcards in her beautiful handwriting.
Jayne's remarkable intellect was amplified by her striking physical presence. At nearly six feet tall and with expertly coiffed red hair, Jayne took great care in her appearance and you could expect to find her smartly and comfortably dressed in beautiful ensembles, often ones she made herself. She had a sense of style cultivated by years of looking closely at the world around her, from the robins at her birdfeeder to the giraffes of the Serengeti. Her erudition, elegance and fascination with life were evident in even the smallest details of her attire.
Jayne is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Phillip and Eileen Pheiffer of St. Louis, MO; son-in-law, Fred Walski, grandchildren, Brittany (Samuel) Pheiffer, Evan Pheiffer, Austin Pheiffer, and Anna (Jesse) Brown; great-grandchildren, George Noble, Indiana Brown, Dahlia Noble, Julie Noble, Calvin Pheiffer and Percival Noble; step-grandchildren, Stacy (David) Van Dyke, and Brad Walski; step-great-grandson, Royal Van Dyke; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Jayne was predeceased by her beloved daughter, Julia Walski; and brothers, Archibald Cowan Jr., and Robert Cowan.
Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 12, 2024 at SecondFirst Church, 318 N. Church Street, Rockford, with Pastor Becky Erbe officiating. Memorials may be made to SecondFirst Church. To share a memory or a condolence, please visit olsonfh.com.