JEAN L. CHALFANT

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Jean L. Chalfant, 72, of Fort Dodge, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, at Trinity Regional Medical Center.

Services will be 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6, at the Gunderson Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Chadric Detrick officiating. Interment will be in the Oakland Cemetery at Moulton. The visitation is Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Memorials may be directed to the discretion of the family.

Jean is survived by her husband Richard; her children, Diane Chalfant-Drury, Urbandale; Ricky Chalfant, David Chalfant and Jennifer Valdez, all of Fort Dodge; five grandchildren, Ronica, Talia, Damon, Ravon, Tyler and one more on the way; and two brothers, Roger Dwight and Robert Dwight, both of Fort Dodge. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Helen.

Jean Louise Dwight was born Sept. 11, 1936, in Moulton. She attended schools in Moulton and worked with her mother to help raise their family. The family moved to Centerville where she was employed at the Ben Franklin store. Jean then moved to Webster City and was employed at Dunn's Master Market. On Aug. 27, 1961, Jean was united in marriage to Richard Chalfant in Webster City, and the couple recently celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary. The couple lived in Cedar Falls while Richard attended Iowa State Teachers College. Richard was drafted into the Army and Jean lived with family members while Richard was in training. Eventually, the couple lived in Virginia, North Carolina and Germany during Richard's service. They returned to the states where they lived in Missouri and Texas. The couple purchased acreage in Moorland where Jean and the family resided while Richard completed his military service. The couple moved into Fort Dodge where they have lived for the past 20 years. Jean was proud to be known as an Army Wife.

Jean was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church at Knierim. She loved to play Bingo, was a big Elvis fan and collected Elvis memorabilia. Jean enjoyed going to and having garage sales and she loved animals. She was proud of her Native American heritage on her father's side of the family and most of all loved her family dearly.