Jean Runte

Jean Marie (Hanson) Runte, age 94, passed away February 14, 2025 in Council Bluffs. She was born August 15, 1930 at home on a farm near Red Oak, IA to the late John and Hulda Hanson. She had 10 other brothers and sisters.

As a child, Jean helped her mother a lot with the cooking and cleaning, while her brothers worked the farm. She attended Coburg Country School until it closed and then attended Red Oak High School. She worked in the library at .40 cents per hour to earn money to attend a trade school. At the age of 16 she left home to attend Commercial Extension School in Omaha and lived with a host family. When she graduated a year later, she was hired at Union Pacific Railroad as a secretary and after a short while moved into Material Accounting. Jean married Jesse Runte and a few years later Christine was born. Jean never missed a softball game of Chris' and loved going to all of her school activities. Jean loved the Lord with all of her heart. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Council Bluffs from the day it opened until the day they closed and her membership was moved to Gethsemane Presbyterian Church. Jean enjoyed singing in the church choir. She worked for Union Pacific for 45 years and retired at the age of 62. Jean loved to ride her bike and moped for many years after retirement, cruising around the neighborhood talking to friends and she loved working outside in her yard and was known for having the best looking yard in the neighborhood. Her favorite thing to do was swimming, going as many times a week that she could fit in. She loved being around her grandkids, watching them grow up and having families of their own. She especially enjoyed watching her great grandkids grow.

In addition to her parents, Jean was preceded in death by sisters Virginia Woods, Frances Carlson, Evelyn Bellew, and Delores Gregorius; brothers Ernest Hanson, Nels Hanson, Luther Hanson, William Hanson, and Harold Wayne.

Jean is survived by her daughter Christine McMurray (Jay); granddaughter Megan McMurray; grandson Justin McMurray (Jodi); great-grandchildren Jaymeson McMurray and Jayda McMurray; sister Ida Henderson; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM at Gethsemane Presbyterian Church on Friday, February 28, 2025. Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM at Gethsemane Presbyterian Church on Friday, February 28, 2025. The family will direct memorials.