Jean Berlekamp Obituary

Jean A. (Stiger) Berlekamp

Jean A. (Stiger) Berlekamp, 98, of rural Green Springs Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at home. She was born Feb. 28, 1924, in Old Fort, to Lester M. and Luella E. (Hoke) Stiger. She married Rondo K. Berlekamp on April 9, 1944, in Wheeling, West Virginia.

She is survived by her daughter, Miriam K. Fankhauser of rural Green Springs; son, Timothy B. (Marilyn) Berlekamp of Grove City, Ohio; sister, Myrna L. Riedel of rural Tiffin; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and several great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rondo K. Berlekamp; partner, George Bagley; two sisters, Delean (Charles) Mc Donald and Shirley (Robert) Eborg; and four siblings, who died young.

Jean was a 1942 graduate of Old Fort School, member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Tiffin, and homemaker for 36 years. She was part owner and manager and after her husband's death, guardian and manager of the Homestead Acres farming operation.

As a genealogist and historian, she belonged to Seneca Co. Genealogical Society 1982-present, Ohio Genealogical Society 1982-1996, and First Families of Ohio. She published multi-volume works for both Hoke and Berlekamp families, co-authored other genealogical works, and published Pleasant Union Cemetery . . . Its History and Record, A History of Pleasant Township, Seneca Co., OH, The Enchanted Moment and Other Stories, as well as writing memoirs.

She was a member of Seneca County Soil and Water Conservation District Auxiliary and was the first woman to serve on the SWCD Board of Directors 1981-1987, serving as President of the Trust Fund Board from 1982-1987.

She and her three sisters started The Enchanted Moment Doll and Gift Shoppe in 1990 in Fremont, Ohio, when she became secretary and vice president until 2019.

She served as President of Enchanted Moment Doll Museum and Gallery Inc., Tiffin, from 2009-present.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, at Horvath Hanes Funeral Home, 211 N. Broadway St., Green Springs, Ohio, 44836.

Jean's funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at the funeral home with an hour of visitation prior to the service. Pastor Andrea Thurston will be officiating.

Burial will be at Pleasant Union Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to The Enchanted Moment, 174 Jefferson St, Tiffin, Ohio, 44883, or Heartland Hospice, 907 W State St. Ste A, Fremont, Ohio, 43420.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.whhfh.com.