Wolf (Anderson), Jean K. of Minneapolis was born in Willmar, MN, December 2, 1942. When her father went to The War in 1944, Jean moved to North Mankato, MN with her mother and sister to be near her mother's family. When Jean was 5 years old, her father began 18 years of service representing Nicollet County in the Minnesota House of Representatives (which required extended absences from home). Jean's genial mother, Mary, created a loving and nurturing home environment. Jean reflected on her father's very low-key campaign style in a piece published in the Star Tribune: 'When Negative Campaigning Meant Eating Lutefisk' (October 18, 1998).
Jean was a graduate of Mankato High School (1960) and the University of Minnesota (1964). She received her Master of Arts in Education from The George Washington University (1968) and her PhD from the University of Minnesota (1982). She taught English at junior high schools in Fridley and Wilmington, Delaware. She was a high school guidance counselor at TC Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. She had a private practice in psychological counseling in Saint Paul from 1982 to 2010. She was appointed to the Minnesota State Board of Psychology and served from 2004 to 2012.
Jean had a keen aesthetic eye, loving art and expressing her own vision as a decorator and illustrator. She loved words and she enjoyed writing; her prose was elegant, precise and witty. But it was people that were her avocation and her vocation. Jean delighted in her friends, colleagues, family, anyone she happened to meet. She read voraciously, especially about psychology and about the empowerment of women. She contributed directly to the empowerment of women, acting to support individuals in difficult circumstances as a teacher, as volunteer president of a small non-profit and as a neighbor.
As she approached age 70, Jean noticed that "sometimes my words won't come to me." In 2012, she was diagnosed by the Mayo Clinic with Primary Progressive Aphasia. Insidiously, her great pleasure of talking with people was taken from her. But the disease could not take her joie de vivre, her caring nature, her gentleness and inner strength. And she never stopped engaging people with her sparkling blue eyes and an infectious laugh that was like a gurgling brook.
Jean left us peacefully on February 18, 2020. Memories of her time with us are treasured by her husband of 55 years (John), sons Andrew and Michael (Michelle) of Minneapolis, sister Judy of Iowa City IA and brother Scott (Mary) of Sacramento CA.
Thank you to Optage Hospice and Homewatch CareGivers of Edina for sensitive, caring support. And we will be forever grateful to the family and friends who visited Jean so faithfully throughout her decline; it was a greater gift to Jean than you can know. Celebration of Life at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, consider memorials to Minnesota Women's Foundation (wfmn.org) or charity of your choice.