Jean K. Quandel

On Aug. 8, 2023, our beloved Mother/Nana Q, Jean Ketura (Jack) Quandel, 99, of Minersville, Pa., passed away peacefully in her home. Her loving, devoted family surrounded her.

Jean was a lifetime resident of Minersville, born Sept. 19, 1923, the fifth of eight children, to the late Harry and Katie (Rowlands) Jack.

She was preceded in death by her parents and seven siblings, Alice (Jack) Williams, Harry Jack, Mary (Jack) Eichenberg, Kathryn (Jack) Frank, William Jack, Vivian (Jack) Gilliford and Helen (Jack) Berg. Also preceding her in death were her infant great-grandchildren, triplets Gunner, Grace and Evelyn Quandel.

In 1990, she lost her adoring husband of 47 years, the late James W. Quandel Sr. In 1968, they started their family business, Quandel Concrete, formally, James W. Quandel & Sons, developing it into the thriving business it is today. She was the driving force behind the scenes, managing the business office while being a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She seamlessly operated the business office at Quandel Concrete for four decades before retiring at age 79.

Surviving are their three children, James W. Quandel Jr., of Minersville, Charles H. Quandel and his wife, Susan (Nagle) Quandel, of Chicago, Ill., and Bonnie (Quandel) Rowlands and her husband, David Ronald Rowlands, of Minersville. Surviving, in addition, are her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Elizabeth (Quandel) Davis and husband, Scott Davis, and their children, Maddie and Drew Davis, of Alpine, N.J.; Charles H. Quandel Jr. and wife, April, and daughter, Gema Jean Quandel, of Schuylkill Haven, and son, Caleb Monk, of Tamaqua; Gregory Quandel and wife, Jessica, of Harrisburg, and children, Gabrielle (Quandel) Umholtz and husband, Dan, of Annville, Kieffer Quandel, of Lusby, Md., Bailey Wertz, wife Alyssa, of Minersville, and Brady Wertz, of Saint Charles, Ill.; Laura Quandel, of Chicago, Ill.; Jennifer Quandel, of Minersville; Jeffrey Quandel and wife Sherri, of Minersville, and daughter, Alexis Padelsky, of Christiansburg, Va.; Jill (Rowlands) Atkinson and husband, William, of Minersville, and children, Dylan Ellinger and fianceé, Adrienne Kroznuskie, of Harrisburg, Bryce Ellinger, of Minersville, Ty Atkinson, of Minersville, Kylie Atkinson, of Schuylkill Haven, and Kelsey Atkinson, of Winterhaven, Fla.; Katie (Rowlands) Carr and husband, Matthew, and children, Dante and Karlie Jean Carr, of Minersville; and Christopher Rowlands and wife, Jacqlyn, and children, Rylan Rowlands, Keera Brennan and Rilynn Brennan, of Minersville.

Jean was a 1941 graduate of the Minersville Area High School. She was a strong, determined and fiercely independent woman who led our family by example. She was a sports enthusiast who enjoyed watching Phillies baseball and Penn State football, and especially loved following her children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's accomplishments on the playing fields, courts and tracks. She also passed down her love of cooking and baking, along with her famous recipe collection, to her daughter, granddaughters and great-granddaughters who will undoubtedly continue the family traditions for generations to come.

Nana Q's greatest joy in life was spending time with her family. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her world. We will be forever grateful for her dedication to us and feel so blessed that we were able to have her with us until now. We will miss her every day.

Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 12, at Zion Lutheran Church, Fourth and Lewis streets, Minersville. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the church, with services to follow. Interment will be in Mount Peace Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the James and Jean Quandel Memorial Softball Fund (JJQMSF) to benefit Minersville Area High School Softball program, C/O Link Bank, 260 Sunbury St., Minersville, PA 17954. Mahal-Ritzel Funeral Home Inc., Minersville, is in charge of the arrangements.