Jeannine Ellen Rolfes

Jeannine Ellen Rolfes, 66, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2025, at Kavanaugh House in Des Moines, Iowa. Family will greet guests from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 3, 2025, at Iles Westover Chapel in Des Moines. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, St. Mary of Nazareth Catholic Church in Des Moines. Jeannine will be laid to rest in Glendale Cemetery following services.
Jeannine was born on June 7, 1959, in Johnson City, New York. Her childhood years were spent in Vermont, a place she always loved and carried with her no matter where life took her. As children, she and her sisters shared a special bond that started in childhood and never faded. They spent hours putting on plays that Jeannine would direct, laughing and creating memories that lasted a lifetime. Even though they ended up living in different states, they always remained close and brought each other so much joy.
In the fall of 1977, Jeannine showed her quiet courage by leaving everything familiar behind to move to Iowa and attend the University of Northern Iowa. She packed all her belongings into a single chest and set out to follow her dream of becoming a teacher. True to her warm and friendly nature, she quickly made friends and even became the social chair of her dorm floor. Just a couple of weeks after arriving, she went to a mixer and met Tom Rolfes, and from there, the story of Jeannine and Tom began. They traveled back to Stowe, Vermont for their wedding and were married in a beautiful ceremony in June of 1981.
Jeannine's love for children and teaching shaped her whole life. Early on, she worked in childcare so she could be with her two young kids, Kate and Dylan. Later, she began teaching at St. Theresa's and eventually joined the Johnston School District, where she taught elementary school for more than 20 years. Teaching meant so much to her, as she genuinely cared about her students and loved watching them grow, as she did her own children.
After retiring, Jeannine enjoyed the simple things that made her happiest, tending to her flower garden, relaxing by the pool, spending time with family and her grandchildren, and taking trips to Ely, Minnesota. She loved nature, especially the trees, loons, and the beautiful fall colors of the Northeast.
Jeannine had a gift for making life special. She loved hosting get-togethers, using "the fancy dishes," and planning parties down to every detail, such as her famous Thanksgiving weekend martini parties. She lived to make others happy. She cherished time spent with her family. Her loving husband Tom was a source of constant happiness and laughter. She always had a smile on her face.
When she became ill, Jeannine's kind and caring spirit shone through. Some of the people caring for her were former students, a reminder of how many lives she had touched over the years. Jeannine was compassionate, loving, funny, and full of life. Her beautiful smile, laugh and generous heart will be missed deeply by all who knew her.
Jeannine is survived by her husband of 44 years, Tom; children, Kate (Joe) Bergeron and Dylan (Lauren) Rolfes; grandchildren: Eddie, Simone, Stryder, Gryffin, and Talula; and her sisters, Laura (Tim) Poirier and Val (Greg) Bartlett.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Regina (Murray) Brault; and in-laws, Al and Kitty Rolfes; and a brother in-law, Gary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jeannine's name may be directed to EveryStep Hospice in honor of their kind and thoughtful care. Her family would also like to extend a special thank you to the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mission Cancer + Blood and Powell 3 Oncology at Unity Point for the exceptional care and kindness they provided through Jeannine's journey.
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