Jeanne Pepper

Jeanne Pepper was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a woman of many special interests but it was evident in every way that her family meant the world to her. Jeanne’s genuine and good-natured ways of showing affection will forever be remembered by all who knew and loved her.

The 1940s were characterized by WWII. By 1947, some of the most significant inventions were created including the Transistor and the Mobile Phone. That same year, Jeanne Marie was born to Erwin and Georgianna (Schwallier) Thome, on March 16th, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Born the oldest of eight children over twenty years, her birth brought her parents great joy. The siblings who came after here were Mary, Terry, Tom, Diane, Donna, Paul, and Julie.

Growing up on the family apple farm at Leonard and 8th Ave NW, Jeanne lived a typical childhood. With plenty of room to roam, she and her siblings enjoyed exploring the orchards and pitching in during harvest time. Their years on the farm taught them the value of hard work and dedication. The family attended Holy Spirit Catholic Church where the children also attended school in their early years. Jeanne was a proud graduate of the Class of 1965 from Mount Mercy High. She was a good student who enjoyed her studies and made a lifelong friend with Barb Hess during these years. Responsible and dependable, she spent much of her adolescence supporting her mom in caring for her siblings and helping out with the household chores. After graduation, she enrolled at St. Mary’s nursing school at the hospital downtown. Later, she enlisted in the United States Army as a nurse working in the burn unit. She served in both Texas and Germany before she was discharged.

Jeanne was married for a short time and mothered two wonderful children, John and Janet. She and the kids made their home on California St NW, where Jeanne made sure that every holiday was made to feel special. She loved the traditions around the season, including an orange at the bottom of their stockings on Christmas morning and the radio tuned to the music of Burl Ives. Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter were always spent with the extended Thome family at the farm. Jeanne kept a very close relationship with her siblings and her family over the years. She taught her kids the importance of family. They also enjoyed camping together and even tent camped at Disney where they were washed out by a thunderstorm! Day trips to Ludington were a highlight of their growing years. Jeanne loved to be outdoors enjoying the sunshine as they rode bikes or visited the zoo. Being a mother was something she treasured throughout her life.

Active and on the go, Jeanne held many special pastimes and earned several accomplishments. She enjoyed running and completed the 25K Riverbank Run and cycled on the Rag Brai across the state of Iowa. When the winter months returned, she would head to the slopes to downhill ski or find a trail to cross-country ski. Sewing and knitting were also her favorite hobbies. In addition, she loved to bake and decorate cakes for special occasions. A lifelong learner, Jeanne returned to complete her RN degree from Grand Rapids Junior College in 1976 and her BSN degree from Grand Valley State University in 1996. She loved her career as a nurse which kept her very busy over the years.

She was most proud of being a grandmother and great-grandmother, enjoying baking, holiday events, and shopping trips with her granddaughters and, most recently, reading books and singing songs with her great-grandchildren.

Not to be forgotten was the meeting of Ron Alderton, who changed the course of her life in 1983. The two of them shared many commonalities including boating and staying physically active. They fell in love with traveling and visited Hawaii and Europe as well as several cruises. He was very supportive when she returned to school to earn her BSN from Grand Valley in 1996. In retirement, she enjoyed being active in the Santa Claus girls and taking daily walks. Jeanne also loved visiting with her siblings and close friend, Barb. They enjoyed playing cards and going out for dinner around town. Sadly, in 2022, she was diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis (MG), a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction, the point where nerves meet muscles. Eventually, she developed cancer in her kidney and lung. Even as her health declined, she was always delighted to spend time with her friends and family. Described as loving, kind, and generous, Jeanne lived a full life giving so much of her time and resources to many. May her loved ones always trust that she is now at home with her Lord and Savior and may her many special memories live on eternally in their hearts.

Jeanne M. Pepper, age 77, of Grand Rapids, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on February 15, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Erwin and Georgianna Thome; and brothers-in-law, David Shaw, Don Tuttle, and John Bettys. Jeanne is survived by her loving significant other, Ron Alderton; children, John (Tulie) McKay and Janet McKay; grandchildren, Georgianna (Aaron) VandenBerg and Jessica (Nolan Darby) Gray; and great-grandchildren, Kobe, Blake, and Georgia. Also surviving are her siblings, Mary Tuttle, Terry (Gail) Thome, Tom (Carol) Thome, Diane DeRyke, Donna Shaw, Paul (Sandy) Thome, and Julie (Jeff) Houvener; numerous nieces and nephews; and lifelong best friend, Barb Hess.

Jeanne served in the U.S. Army as a nurse and then worked as an RN at St. Mary’s Hospital for over 38 years. Her greatest love was her family and making memories with them. Her lifelong wish was for others to be kind and love one another. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Friday, February 21, 2025, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt and Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. The family will greet visitors from 10 AM until the start of the service. Contributions in her memory may be made to Faith Hospice. Celebrate Jeanne’s life by sharing stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at heritagelifestory.com