Services for Jeannette Buckingham, 79, who passed away at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames on September 20, 2018, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, September 24, 2018 at Overton Funeral Home, Indianola with burial following at I.O.O.F. Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Indianola.

I was born Jeannette Jalene Warren on March 30, 1939, to parents Kenneth and Hazel Warren on a farm near St. Mary, Iowa.  I joined brother Ronald Glen who was three years old.  Six and a half years later Linda Kay and Larry Loy joined our family to complete it.

After graduation from high school, I was married to Hugh Johnson. We had a daughter, Judith Ann.  Several years later we were divorced and I married Jerry Shutt.  Tragically, he was killed in a construction accident eight months later.  Our daughter, Jeri Jalene, was born six months later.  Later, I would marry Charles Buckingham and would have a son, Matthew William.  I have always carried a sadness in my heart because this part of my life never went as planned.

I have always enjoyed volunteer work and spent many years working with children in the Indianola school system.  I also volunteered at Helping Hand, Story County Food Bank, Bethany Life and Affordables in Story City. I enjoyed many jobs throughout the years; Iowa Board of Medical Examiners, underwriter at Bankers Life and at Principal and many part-time jobs.  I tried to learn something new each time.

My family has always been the center of my life and has given me much love and happiness.  Grandchildren have been very important to me.  I am survived by my three children, Judith Ann (John) Nowak, Jeri Jalene (Ryan) Saltzman, and Matthew William (Joy, who has been like a daughter to me ) Buckingham; 20 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; siblings, Larry (Terrill) Warren and Linda (Larry) Haynes. I was preceded in death by my parents, husbands, and brother, Ronald and his wife, Marge.

I love you and goodbye dear family and friends; until we meet again.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Sunday, September 23 at Overton Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to Israel Family House Hospice in Ames or Bethany Life in Story City.