Lois Jean Montag Walker, known universally as Jean, passed away early Christmas morning, 2022, at Park View Rehabilitation Center in Sac City, IA.
Jean was born on October 5, 1925 in West Bend, IA to Edward and Alice (Fogarty) Montag. Within a few years, the family moved to Sac City. Jean attended Sac City Community School and Sac City High School.
After graduating from SCHS, Jean was recruited by the Federal government as part of a program to find employees for Federal agencies. Jean and a friend moved to Washington, DC before Jean’s 18th birthday where they worked for the FBI as fingerprint classifiers. After a few years in DC, Jean moved to Kansas City for training at Capital Airlines as a gate agent. She completed her training and was assigned to Midway Airport in Chicago.
Jean met her husband John S. Walker at Midway Airport where he worked as an airplane mechanic for Capital Airlines. They were married in 1948 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sac City and remained in Rogers Park (Chicago) until their first child Ann was born in 1951. In 1952, they moved the family to Early, IA where John operated a Standard Oil station.
Later that year, John took a job with North American Aviation as a field representative. This began Jean’s role as the rock of the family as it embarked on a peripatetic journey around the country for John’s job. Her second daughter Katherine was born in Norfolk, VA; her son John (Tag), was born in Alameda, CA.
Jean managed the moves, establishing new households, and supporting the children through numerous school changes. In each new location, she made sure the family experienced what the location had to offer. Over the course of 15 years, the family hopped around the US from a base in Columbus, OH as John worked with US Navy fighter squadrons. Jean was an active volunteer in her children’s schools wherever they lived. The family eventually settled in Columbus, where Jean continued to volunteer and then worked as a library aide in the Catholic HS her children attended.
After John's retirement, Jean & John returned to Sac City. In the mid-1970’s, Jean established her quilt shop in conjunction with her brother Joe’s antique business. The two businesses shared space as The Oak Door on Main Street. Jean was active in the quilting community, serving as mentor to many quilters and judging the quilt entries in the county fair. She was an accomplished seamstress, making many of her own clothes as well as clothing for her daughters and especially her granddaughters. Jean continued to operate the quilt/fabric shop well into her 80’s, walking to & from work each day. She was an avid bridge player throughout her life.
She was active in the civic life of Sac City. She was part of the Loring Hospital Guild, volunteered at the Historical Society, and at St Mary’s Catholic Church. She served several terms on the Sac City Public Library Board. She was honored by induction into the Sac City High School Hall of Fame.
Jean was a thread that ran through Sac City—literally. She kept Sac Cityzens together and presentable by replacing coverall/jacket zippers and buttons, hemming pants & dresses, altering prom and wedding gowns, repairing blue jeans, and much more of what she called ‘OP’—other people’s sewing.
She was preceded in death by her husband John of 58 years; her parents; her brothers Joe, John, Philip, and Robert Montag; and sister Mary Montag. Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Ann Walker Smalley (Don), Katherine Hutchinson (Michael), and John Montag Walker (Laura); brothers Tom, David, Paul, and Patrick Montag; 5 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews along with other extended relatives and friends.
The family expresses its heartfelt thanks to Park View & Dr. Gyano for the care she received over the last few years. In addition, the family appreciates the love and support shown by Ann Pugh and family. Memorials in Jean’s name may be sent to Sac City Public Library, Park View, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, or an organization of the donor’s choice.
We hope you will join us in a celebration of Jean’s life to be held in late spring 2023.
