Mrs. Peggy Jeanne Watters, 75, rural Galesburg, passed away peacefully at home Wednesday, November 6, 2019. Jeanne was born January 5, 1944 in Centralia, IL and was the second child of Berthold Edgar and Virginia Grace (Polley) Stover. She was a graduate of Centralia High School and St. Luke’s School of Nursing in St. Louis, MO. She worked at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Jeanne met Harold Watters on a blind date and they married on April 17, 1965 at First Methodist Church in Centralia, IL. The couple resided in Urbana, IL 1965-1967 where she worked as a pediatric allergist nurse and assisted in managing an apartment building. Jeanne moved with her husband during his US Army service to Seattle, WA and Dugway Proving Grounds, UT, where she served as a Girl Scout leader. They settled in Galesburg, IL in 1969 and Jeanne began work as a nurse at Galesburg Clinic.
After staying home to care for her children, Jeanne entered the home health care industry. She began as a pediatric home care nurse with Nurse’s House Call and later moved into management with Osten and Cottage Home Care before retiring in 2002. She was host mom to over twenty Rotary Youth Exchange Students from South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Jeanne was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was a Rainbow Girl and later a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Jeanne served as president of the Galesburg Jayceettes and the Sunrise Rotary Club. She was the first female president of the Knox County YMCA Board. She served on several District 205 committees and as co-chairman of the District 6460 Rotary International Youth Exchange Committee. She enjoyed hosting large gatherings for family, friends and the community. Jeanne loved traveling the world with her husband and introduced her grandchildren to international travel. She spent much of her free time with her grandchildren who affectionately called her Nanny. She enjoyed puzzles and watching sports, especially GHS teams and was a season ticket holder for 47 years.
Her parents and brother, Berthold Jr., preceded her in death.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Harold Ward Watters; sister, Barbara Becker (Richard), Winter Park, FL; four children, Kristen Adams (Michael), Utica, IL, Jennifer Robinson (Brian), Galesburg, Craig Watters, Oregon, IL, and Sara Diamond (Jason), Fairfax, VA; and ten grandchildren.
Cremation will be accorded. Visitation will be 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church. A “Celebration of Life” memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the church. Rev. Frank Langholf will officiate. Memorials may be made in her name to Trinity Lutheran Church or Galesburg Rotary Club Foundation. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Service Galesburg Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
