Dear all,
My mom's obituary is below.  This is what I imagine will be my final post to her Caring Bridge page.
Thank you all for caring for her!  I will miss her forever and always.
My very best,
Jennifer

Jean Illsley Clarke, talented teacher, parent educator, researcher, and author, passed away on June 30, 2021. Predeceased by Richard “Dick” Clarke - her husband of 60 years and her greatest champion. Dick passed in October 2020, just eight months prior to Jean. They are survived by their children Marc, Jennifer (Gary Rowland), Wade (Amy), and grandchildren Addie, Katie, Gressa, Freya, Ryan, Disa and Nick. 

Jean led a full life with an enormous capacity to learn and grow and love. Born in 1925, Jean grew up on a dairy farm outside of Faribault, Minnesota and earned her BS at the University of Minnesota in 1948. She explored a degree in physics, wanting to help in the sciences in the aftermath of WWII, but she was encouraged to pursue something else “because she was unlikely to be hired” as a woman. After a year of chemistry (she couldn’t imagine spending her life in a lab!), Jean pursued a degree in home economics with an emphasis in nutrition, a lifelong passion. She studied under the legendary Goldstein sisters and quoted them throughout her life. 

Five days after graduation, Jean boarded a train west to Spokane, where she launched her career teaching high school Home Ec. Jean put herself through college as a seamstress making custom dresses. Her sewing skills were such that she was soon teaching the other teachers sewing in the evenings. After two years in Spokane, Jean returned to Minneapolis and taught in the Minneapolis Public Schools. While teaching, in the early days of television, she hosted a weekly homemaking show called “Tea at Three with Jeannie K” on public television. Typical of the times, Jean’s contract was cancelled in 1961 when she was pregnant and started to show. 

Jean and Dick settled on Gleason Lake and when their children were young, Jean worked on projects with area school districts. As soon as her youngest was out of grade school, Jean considered what to do next. Drawn to both the challenges facing the environment and parenting, Jean ultimately earned her master’s degree in human development at St. Mary’s University. A year later came her first book, Self Esteem: A Family Affair. Jean said she wrote the book she wished she had as she raised her children - and her next act was launched as a parent educator. 

Jean constantly tried to offer parents what they needed to flourish. She was an astute observer in human behavior. She believed that good boundaries give people the freedom to be themselves while allowing others to do the same and she had a profound respect for how people made sense of their lives. She understood how empowering it is for people to ask for help, and how excruciatingly difficult it is for some to ask. She believed people who feel they have permission to feel all their feelings make more grounded, informed decisions.

Jean committed herself to her life's purpose. She was sometimes tempted at times to branch off into other areas (i.e.: helping traumatized women), but decided she needed to remain focused on parenting. It was a passion and a discipline. Jean brought hope, healing, strength, and courage to people who were burdened with past life hurts, beliefs, or oppression.  One of her early mentors said to her, “I figured out what you do, Jean Illsley Clarke. You peddle hope.” 

Jean's greatest legacy may be her research on affirmations and overindulgence, as well as her ability to translate raw data and theories into learning lessons for parents. She designed and led parenting workshops for more than 40 years and was renowned, not only in Minnesota, but also in the national parenting community. Jean authored and co-authored 18 books, translated into eight languages, as well as many articles and publications.

Jean completed her final project during the pandemic, collaborating with the UMN Extension, which now offers much of her overindulgence teaching free and available to all at extension.umn.edu/parenting/overindulgence

A joint Celebration of Life for Jean and Dick Clarke to be joyously held on Thursday, August 4, 2022. Both Jean and Dick loved celebrations, so come in your colorful best. St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church, 3121 Groveland School Road in Wayzata. Vaccinations requested, masks welcome. Visitation at 10am, service at 11am.  Luncheon to follow at the Minikahda Club at 12:30pm. Memorials welcomed to any cause that helps people live better lives.
The service will be livestreamed from St. Luke’s homepage: www.stluke.mn