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Jeanne E. Colson
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Jeanne, 80, of Sun City West, Arizona, passed away January 15, 2021, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Jeanne is survived by her three children, Rick (wife Lora), Dan (wife Theresa), Kristi (husband Chris), her brothers Bob and John and her 11 grandchildren. Born July 9, 1940, in Davenport, Iowa, to Robert Victor Carlson and Florence Winifred Speidel, Jeanne’s family moved to Kirkwood, Missouri, in 1949. She became very active in Girl Scouts and was Vice President of the Greater St. Louis Girl Scout Council. She credits Girl Scouts for changing her life. Jeanne attended Southeast Missouri State University where she earned her BS in Physical Education in May,1962, graduating as one of the top ten women students on campus. She began teaching elementary physical education later that year in a suburb of St. Louis. In October of 1965, Jeanne married Fred Colson. Three months later, they moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where Jeanne and Fred settled and started a family. After having a pool built in the family’s backyard in 1971, Jeanne taught countless numbers of young children to swim. Jeanne received her master’s degree in Physical Education from Arizona State University and began volunteering in 1972 as a physical education teacher for kindergarten and first grade students at Ingleside Elementary in the Scottsdale school district. The following year she began teaching PE at two elementary schools for a 1st-3rd grade pilot program. The program was a success! Jeanne was instrumental in the Scottsdale school district adopting a PE program for the younger 1st-3rd grade students as well as co-authoring the PE primary grade curriculum guide for the district. She went on to teach PE in Scottsdale for 24 years. After retiring in 1997, Jeanne and Fred moved to Sun City West in 1998 where Jeanne taught herself to play golf, enjoyed playing tennis, swimming laps, country western dancing and spending time with friends. Jeanne’s wishes were honored, and her body was donated to Research for Life. A private ceremony will be held by her family at a later date due to Covid. Jeanne will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
