Jeanette Marie Coleman

Coleman (Stievater) – Jeanette Marie Coleman 94, of Wheeling, West Virginia died peacefully in the hands of her beloved daughter Christine, at Wheeling Hospital, Tuesday, February 14, 2017.
Jeanette was born in Mishawaka, Indiana, June 29, 1922, the daughter of the late Edward Allen Stievater and Anna Lucy (Pozzi) Stievater, 91, married 66 years.
The loving wife of the late Robert Eugene Coleman, 77, died March 13, 1996.
Beloved Mother of three children. All surviving, Stephen Robert (Cora) Coleman, 68, of Mckeesport, Pa., Christine Annette Coleman of London, England, 67, and Charles Eugene (Connie former wife) Coleman, 63, of Wheeling, WV with two grandchildren, Jason Charles Coleman and Chelsea Ann Coleman, both of Wheeling, WV.
Family was very important to Jeanette. She would enjoy getting the family together to visit her Mom and Dad in Mishawaka summers and holidays.
Jeanette’s late Father-in-law, Ural F. Coleman, and Mother-in-law, Eura (Bivin) Coleman, would have wonderful get-togethers in Mishawaka many summers and holidays.
Her closeness to her late brother, James Edward Stievater, meant so much as his surviving wife, MaryJo, Jeanette’s sister-in-law and three children, Michael, Gina and Lisa would take vacations in many beautiful Florida and Caribbean Islands.
Her late Aunts Marie Murphy, Mrs. Carmel Henry and her late Uncles Maurice Pozzi, John Pozzi and William Pozzi spent much time mentoring Jeanette.
She learned how to play golf from her Aunt Carmel and Uncles Maurice, John and William.
Jeanette played golf the rest of her life until she was about 80. She played golf with her grandson, Jason, at Oglebay courses and he told me he saw her hit a hole in one.
Jeanette’s best high school friend, Martha Jane Schroeder, became even closer when Martha married Jeanette’s husband’s brother, William Harold Coleman. Their families would spend many holidays together, traveling hundreds of miles to enjoy each otherás company.
Nieces and nephews from her husband’s side of the family, William Harold Coleman and Barbara Coleman, were much loved.
Jeanette loved nieces and nephews from her side of the family, Michael Edward Stievater, Gina Stievater Hiler and Lisa Stievater Riley got together as often as possible despite living hundreds of miles apart.
Jeanette went to Mishawaka High School in Mishawaka, Indiana, where she excelled at everything academically and socially. She made the “National Honor Society” as a Senior and excelled in the “Commercial club” in which she was honored for her typing, bookkeeping and shorthand skills.
Student Council as vice-president was also an activity which she enjoyed as a forum of students who discussed student problems. She no doubt was helped in her interest in others to be a better person among others who didn’t just think of themselves through the adolescent teenage years.
She also was accepted into the “Quill and Scroll,” an amateur journalist society writing, editing or managing a high school publication. Involvement with her peers formed her early personality to care about others.
Jeanette was fondly nicknamed “Stevie,” taken from her last name. Her Dad also had the nickname. In her Senior Yearbook her schoolmates wrote some of the following: “One of the greatest girls I have ever known,” “…you have been a swell pal,” “A hard little worker,” “Your friendship has been invaluable,” “I’ll never forget the fun I have had knowing you,” “Let’s keep on being good friends forever,” “I won’t wish you success you will always be a success no matter what you undertake”
She learned from her large family and friends to be kind to all and care about others.
Her love for God and family was seen by all who were fortunate enough to know her.
When WWII began Jeanette was working as a secretary in Mishawaka for US Rubber Co. She was transferred to California in 1941 at the age of 21. She stayed there for almost 3 years doing some traveling in California and golfing in some spare time.
She returned to Mishawaka after the war and in 1946 married her high school sweeheart, Bob Coleman.
Bob and Jeanette lived in many cities around the East and Midwest. Starting in Lafayette, Indiana, where Jeanette and her husband Bob made their first house, a small trailer near the Campus of Purdue University, where Bob started school on the GI Bill after he served in WWII. Jeanette did some secretarial work and housekeeping for a professor’s family at Purdue while her husband hit the books.
Jeanette had her first child while they were living in the small trailer.
Jeanette’s life as a wife and mother was moving on.
Many moves would follow. Chicago, North Side then Oak Park, Illinois and a second child was born.
Then River Forest, Illinois and a third child. Then they took a move that was most exciting when Bob was transferred to St. Annes-On-Sea in Northern England. One block from the Atlantic Ocean.
Next stop Esher, Surrey, Northern England. Then back to the States, North Hills, PA. Jeanette worked secretarial jobs while Bob as a Mechanical Engineer did his thing in the Baking Industry.
Next stop McKeesport, Pa. They make steel there. Jeanette worked as a secretary for a Doctor while Bob started a trucking business.
Retirement and their youngest son, Charles, and daughter-in-law Connie (Elliot) Coleman of Wheeling, WV had their first child. Of course Jeanette couldn’t wait to be a grandmother. So off they go house hunting in Wheeling. Find a beautiful place on the Ohio River and they get the “Wheeling feeling.”
Meanwhile Jeanette has nurtured a love for antiques from her mother and all her travels. Well, Victorian Wheeling was waiting for Bob and Jeanette. And the rest is their happy history as antique buyers and sellers with the North Wheeling Victorian Old Town Association in full bloom they were over the moon. Thanks to the great neighbors in VOTA, Jeanette and Bob were really home.
There is so much for Jeanette and Bob to recall of their odyssey through this amazing world.
As Jeanette wrote when Bob died in 1996 from a degenerative disease, “My wishes, Don’t grieve! Please think of it as a celebration of my wonderful long full life with special husband and three wonderful children and their families and precious grandchildren.”
Love to all. Jeanette.
There will be no visitation at the funeral home. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church with Monsignor Eugene S. Ostrowski as celebrant. Inurnment will be held at the convenience of the family in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Wheeling.
Arrangements by Altmeyer Funeral Home, 1400 Eoff St., Wheeling.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.altmeyerfuneralhomes.com.
Any kindness you can show to your fellow man/woman, Jeanette says be my guest.