Jean Wiley, 99

Jean Wiley died Jan. 24, 2024, in Sandpoint, and spent her 100th birthday rejoicing in heaven.

Jean Edith Lindstrom was born Jan. 28, 1924, and raised in the Chicago with a large extended Swedish family. She met Joe Wiley while both were working at a department store in downtown Chicago. They became engaged before Joe left for Europe to fight in World War II. They were married in April of 1946.

Jean was a full-time mom until her kids were school age, then began to work various jobs. When they family moved to Minneapolis, she began a 22-year career as a banker with Northwestern Bank/Wells Fargo. She was an officer for corporate accounts when she retired in 1987 and they moved to Washington state.

In retirement, Jean was an avid gardener, knitter, seamstress and loving grandma. She began making American Girl doll clothes and selling them at large craft shows in the Portland and Seattle areas in the early 1990s and continued for the next 20 years. 

Joe died in Vancouver, Wash., in 2003. They had been married 57 years. Jean became active in the Presbyterian Church in Vancouver, continued going to craft shows and gardening. At the age of 92, she moved from her home to Sandpoint, Idaho to be near her son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Maureen Wiley. There she lived in Alpine Vista and Luther Park.

Her family is thankful for her long, full life. She was hard-working, fiercely devoted to her family, loving, faithful and strong. We will miss her.

Her family: Nancy Reese, Minneapolis, Minn.; Jan and Dan Roberson, Bigfork, Mont.; Jeff and Maureen Wiley, Sandpoint, Idaho; and her five grandkids and spouses along with one great-granddaughter.