Jean Rae Graffunder

Jean R. Graffunder, 74, of Lehigh, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, April 9, 2023, at her home surrounded by family.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 13, 2023, at Carson ~ Stapp Funeral Home in Dayton. Pastor Richard Laird will officiate. Burial will be at Cedar Township Cemetery in Rinard, Iowa. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 12, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Carson – Stapp Funeral Home. For online obituaries & condolences visit: www.carsonstappfuneralhome.com

Jean Rae Kennedy was born on February 2, 1949, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Louis and Lavina “Pat” (Paterson) Kennedy. She was raised by her mother and step-father, Merle Dale Porter Sr. Jean earned her G.E.D. and furthered her education at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge.

On July 2, 1966, Jean was united in marriage to Carl Dean Graffunder at the Christian Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa. To this union seven children were born: Carl Jr., Carla, Charles Dale, Joan, Jayleen, Christopher, and Rachel.

Jean and Carl lived in Fort Dodge and Somers prior to establishing their home in Lehigh in 1973. Her employment included Friendship Haven and Globe Union in Fort Dodge, serving school lunches at the Southeast Webster Elementary School in Dayton, Casey’s General Store in Dayton, and the Food Center in Lehigh.

Jean belonged to the Lehigh Christian Church and the Lehigh Women’s Club. Her hobbies included crafting, making clothes pin wreaths, and crocheting blankets for her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, two daughters, Carla Graffunder and Rachel Graffunder, one son, Christopher Graffunder, her twin brother, Eugene Ray Patterson, brothers, Rick Johns and Bob Porter, and her sisters, Claudette Kelley, and Kathy Deimerly.

Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Carl Graffunder of Lehigh, IA; children, Carl Graffunder Jr. of Lytton, IA, Charles Dale (Mary) Graffunder of Ely, IA, Joan (Andy) Whitson of Fonda, IA, and Jayleen Graffunder of Leonard, MI; ten grandchildren, Samantha, Faith, Cody, Cierra, Tayler, Charles, Brittany, Andrea, Wesley, and Jordyn; five great-grandchildren, Kira, Kinnick, Parker, Riley, and Kamaria, and a sixth great-grandchild due to arrive in July; siblings, Louis Kennedy Jr., Sandy (Richard) Graffunder, Karen “Karlotta” Welch, Edith Green, Merle (Laura) Porter, Pete (Sandra) Porter and Marty (Thomas) Lininger; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.