Obituary of Jean Kettles

KETTLES: Jean Kettles passed away peacefully at Hillcrest Place on Saturday, July 4, 2020 with friends by her side. Jean was born at home in the R.M. of Whitehead to Robert and Tena Augusta (née Winters) Kettles on September 21, 1923. She attended Huntington School from grades one to ten. Jean then attended grade 11 in Griswold and grade 12 in Souris. At the age of 18, she went to Brandon Normal School graduating with her teaching degree in 1942. She taught at Wakopa near the U.S.A. border the first year and then at Huntington School for two years as well as one year at Brandon School. In 1947, she finished a term of teaching in Rivers Elementary School. After her teaching years, Jean went to Brandon Wheat City Business College and graduated in March of 1948 and began working in the office at Cumming & Dobbie. She worked there for 44 years, many of those years as office manager, retiring in 1992. While the boss was on holidays she would be left in charge of the business. Jean met her fiancé, Tom Hicks, painter and decorator, at a ski club in Brandon when she was working at Cumming & Dobbie. She enjoyed downhill skiing until breaking her ankle on one occasion. Both she and Tom belonged to the Light Horse & Pony Society and attended the smaller fairs showing their horse. They enjoyed showing their horse, "Little Frostie", who was a show jumper at the Winter Fair in Brandon. They also belonged to the Brandon Horticulture Society winning many prizes with their beautiful flowers. Jean loved to play scrabble. She would play at the Army and Navy and with the seniors at Prairie Oasis. She played scrabble every week at Hillcrest until the middle of March of this year. Jean played well and was hard to beat. Her mind was very sharp. Jean was kind and thoughtful always helping someone. She enjoyed meeting her cousins for luncheons and kept in touch with school teachers from Normal School. She was an avid Blue Jay's fan, knowing every player by name and up until they didn't play this year, she kept track of their wins and losses. Jean is survived by her four nieces and their families: Kathy (Brian) Thomas and their children: Shawn (Kathleen) and their daughters, Evelyn and Vivian; Laura Kerslake (Leo Kozar) and Laura's son, Bob (Dana) and their two sons, Jordan and Braden and their family; her youngest son, David (Kara) and their children and grandchildren; Laurie Gough (Rob McCort) and their son, Quinn; and Linda (Steve) Kommrusch. Jean was predeceased by her fiancé, Tom Hicks; her parents, Robert and Tena Augusta Kettles; sister, Emily Kettles who passed away the same year Jean was born; brother, Bobby when he was 14 years old; brother, Don Kettles and his wife Alice (née Grojan) Kettles and their son, Robert Leslie Kettles; sister, Tena and brother-in-law, Patrick Gough. Jean lived at Riverheights Terrace for four years after leaving her home at the age of 90 years. She moved to Hillcrest Place which has been her home until now. We appreciate the excellent care she received while living there. We would like to give a great big thanks to all of the staff, she spoke highly of all of you. A Graveside Service will be held at Rosewood Memorial Gardens on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jean may be made to the Adult and Teen Challenge, Site 325 Box 24 RR#3, Brandon, MB, R7A 5Y3 or to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, 1379 Kenaston Blvd., Winnipeg, MB, R3P 2T5.