Jeannine Catherine Call was born to Augustine and Catherine Depperschmidt on July 25, 1931 ,in Park, Kansas. Jeannine was the oldest of 4 children. Jeannie was a teacher in her early life In Wichita, Ks. where she met William D. Call, whom she would marry in early 1954. They had 10 children together before divorcing in 1976. After the divorce, she returned to school at Fort Hays State, earning a Master’s degree in special education. Shortly after returning to teaching, she changed direction and began a new career, eventually becoming a Mechanical Engineer in Pharmaceutical companies, first in Hays, Ks. then Phoenix, Az., retiring from that line of work and returning to Hays in 1999.
She was a member of St. Joseph’s church in Hays, was a library volunteer, and belonged to a quilting club.
She faced the harsh realities of life head on and did whatever it took to take care of her children and her future so she would never be dependent on anyone! Jeannine had great integrity, great faith and was intent on controlling her own destiny. She carried throughout her life a deep love of teaching, reading, researching, learning new and enlightening information, and gardening. Her yard was always full of all manner of flowers, fruit trees and vegetable gardens. Not one to care to travel much, she had hundreds of books to take her wherever struck her fancy without ever leaving the house. She was deeply compassionate, loving, and full of humor, very direct and a superbly wonderful human being. She had a deep passion and zest for life. She did not know a stranger and loved all she encountered. She deeply loved and raised her 10 children amidst many challenges and loved not only her own children, many grandchildren and great grandchildren, but included in her family many, many others that she enfolded in her love and heart as well, and they happily called her mom as well.
In 90 years of life Mom crossed many paths and picked up various nick names including J.C., but in the last few years most have known her as Granny, although there have been a few instances referencing the cartoon character “Maxine” as well. If you knew her, you would easily see the resemblance in looks and occasional attitude and commentary…
Jeannine was most content when she was with her large and extended family, when she was delving into her collections of books and pictures of family and friends, in researching the genealogy of her family’s ancestry and sharing it with others and in puttering around her yard and garden.
Jeannine is preceded in death by her mom and dad, “Katie” and “Gus” Depperschmidt, her sister Wanda Depperschmidt and her brother, Danny Depperschmidt. She is survived by her brother Tom Depperschmidt, Oakley, KS and by her children: David (Dona) Call of Yates Center, KS, Mike (Alaina) Call of Sedgwick KS, Dan (Ellie) Call of Chanute, KS, Rick (Ellen) Call of Hays, KS, Mary (Wayne) Magley of Monument, KS, Larry (Diann) Call of Haysville KS, Joe (Paula) Call of Wichita, KS, Suzy (Al) Jacobsen of Lawrence, KS, Jim Call of Hays, KS, Angie (Ed) Needham of Mulvane KS, 31 grandchildren and their spouses, 44 great grandchildren and their spouses, and 3 great-great grandchildren.
Jeannie was deeply loved and highly esteemed. She will be greatly missed. Her love, her laughter, her hugs, her joy, her passion and zest for life are the living legacies that ripple out into the future generations of this family.
At Jeannine Call’s request, no services will be held. She will be buried next to her Mother and Father in St. Joseph’s cemetery in Oakley, Ks.
Arrangements are being made by Wulf-Ast Mortuary of Garden Plain, Ks.