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Jeanne Brannum Tinsley, 79, of Storm Lake passed away peacefully Friday afternoon, Dec. 6, 20224, at Accura Healthcare in Aurelia.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 3-7 p.m. at Cobblestone Ballroom and Event Center Mermaid Room. We invite everyone who knew and loved Jeanne to attend. Jeanne loved animals of all kinds but especially dogs. In her memory, please consider donating to the Storm Lake animal shelter Caring Paws Rescue by mailing a check to PO Box 54, Storm Lake, IA 50588. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
She was born Sept. 23, 1945, in Evanston, Ill., the daughter of the late Robert and Millicent Tinsley of Waukegan, Ill. She is survived by her husband Ken Schweller of Storm Lake; sister: Joanne Tinsley of Tarrytown, N.Y.; brother Grant Tinsley of Gurnee, Ill.; and her four children: Scott Hanna of St. Paul, Minn.; Lauren Hanna of Cardiff, Calif.; Robbie Schweller of McAllen, Texas; and Andrew Tinsley of St. Paul, Minn. She had four grandchildren: Carson Brown, Colton Brown, Ryker Schweller and Archer Schweller; and one little dog, Molly, that she loved very much.
Jeanne graduated from Waukegan High School before attending Carleton College. She later earned her PhD in experimental psychology from the University of Illinois. Her first marriage was to Bruce Hanna, the father of Scott and Lauren. While in graduate school, Jeanne met her husband Ken, and they married in 1973, celebrating their 50th anniversary earlier this year. After obtaining her doctorate, she and Ken moved to Storm Lake in 1976 to accept faculty positions at Buena Vista University (formerly Buena Vista College). Her youngest sons, Robbie and Andrew, were born a few years later.
Jeanne taught statistics, abnormal and child psychology and was for many years the Dean of the School of Social Science, Philosophy and Religion. She also served as chair of the Faculty Senate and took students on trips to Europe during the January interim. She and her husband retired from BVU in 2012 after 36 years of teaching.
Jeanne was very athletic. For many years, she swam laps at the college pool five times a week and even worked out with the men's swim team. She taught aerobics at the college and participated in many 5K races, a pike's peak run, the Twin Cities Marathon and several Ride-Runs around Storm Lake. She and her husband also participated in three RAGBRAIs. They liked to sail and motor on Storm Lake and twice chartered sailboats for a week of bare-boating in the British Virgin Islands.
Jeanne was active in the community, a member of PEO, a reader at the elementary schools and a member of the Cherokee Symphony Orchestra for many years.
Of all her accomplishments, Jeanne was the most fond and proud of her four children and four grandkids.
