Lois J. Ferns

Lois J. "Jean" Ferns, 80, of Milan, Illinois, died Friday, June 26, 2015, at Heartland Health Care Center, Moline, Illinois.

Services are 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, Coal Valley, with The Reverend Tim Snart officiating. Burial is in Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation is 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday at Trimble Funeral Home, Coal Valley. Cremation will take place at Trimble Crematory prior to services. Memorials may be made to the church.

The former Lois Jean Harlan was born July 19, 1934, in Kewanee, Illinois, the daughter of Jess and Esther (Hier) Harlan. She married Donald Ferns on July 2, 1955, in Kewanee.

Jean worked for the U.S. government as a bookkeeper at several locations as her family moved with her husband's service in the U.S. Navy. She especially enjoyed her time working in Exmouth, Western Australia.

She was a member of the Last Run Snow Riders Club in Andalusia, the East End Club Ladies' Auxiliary in Moline, and the Andalusia Lions Club. She loved spending winters with her husband at Midway Manor in Leesburg, Florida, and spent a lot of time in the past eight years at Shady Lakes Campground in New Windsor.

Jean was an avid NASCAR fan, especially of Jeff Gordon. She truly enjoyed life and being outdoors, including dancing, snowmobiling, boating, camping, traveling and vacationing with her family, and working in her flower garden. She made friends wherever she went, and was the epitome of someone who never met a stranger. Above all else, she loved being with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Don; children, Robert "Bobby" and Jill Ferns of Bettendorf, Iowa, Dennis "Frosty" Ferns of Kewanee, Doug and Laurie Ferns of Moline, and Kelli and Todd Sandusky of Coal Valley; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister, Bernadine Olson of Moline. She was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters.

Visit Jean's personal tribute page at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com to share stories and condolences, and light a candle in her memory.