Lorna Jean Palmquist, the daughter of Dwight and Geneva (DeBolt) Cowardin was born June 18, 1931, in Mills County, Iowa. She passed away with her family by her side on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at Accura Healthcare of Stanton, Stanton, Iowa, the age of 90 years, 5 months and 5 days.

Jean was raised in the Pacific Junction, Iowa, area and graduated from Pacific Junction High School in 1948. After attending Red Oak Junior College, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to work. On March 15, 1951, Jean married Donald Palmquist in Malvern, Iowa. Don's work took them to live in Ames, Iowa, Omaha, Nebraska, Buhl, Idaho, Los Angeles, California, and then Stanton, Iowa. In their later years, they moved to Red Oak, Iowa. Throughout the years, Jean worked at Mutual of Omaha, ran her own home day-care, worked for Security State Bank in Stanton, and volunteered with several organizations. Jean was quick to take care of those who needed her help along with serving as a hospice volunteer for 27 years. She loved her family and friends, playing games, working puzzles, laughter, and chocolate. Jean was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Stanton, Iowa.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, William Beam; husband, Don on June 25, 2008; son-in-law, Jeff Lundgren; brothers, Leslie Cowardin, Dwight and wife Dorothy Cowardin and Hubert Cowardin; and brother-in-law and wife, Jim and June Palmquist.

Jean is survived by her three daughters: Lin (Bruce) Kaufman of Sparta, WI, Karen Lundgren of Essex, IA, and Diane Brunette of Seattle, WA; 8 grandchildren: Cherie (John) Rifenberg of La Crescent, MN, Andrea (Ty) Babinski of West Salem, WI, Dan (Shannon) Kaufman of Wellton, AZ, Melissa (Mike) Choi of Sparta, WI, Mary (Bryan) Clark of Shenandoah, IA, Emma (Wyatt) Girton of Cedar Falls, IA, Beth (Seth) Harvey of Shawnee, KS and Natalie Brunette of Seattle, WA; 13 great-grandchildren: Jonathan, Tyler, Charlotte, Rosie, Zane, Grant, Maddie, Paxton, Ian, Evelyn, Theo, Alex and Levi; sister, Julee Janca of Bellevue, NE; and brother-in-law: John (Charlotte) Palmquist of Stanton, IA; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

May God bless her memory and give strength to those who mourn.

Funeral Service will be held
Saturday, November 27, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.
At Evangelical Covenant Church, Stanton, Iowa

Burial will take place before the funeral service on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the Mission Covenant Cemetery, rural Stanton, Iowa

Visitation with the family on Friday afternoon, November 26 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers family requests memorials directed to the family for future designation.

Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home in charge of Jean's arrangements.