Jean Pauline Jepson passed away peacefully on her own terms, Friday, October 23, 2026. Jean was born February 16, 1940, in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, the only daughter of Ben and Fern (Tracy) Jepson. She graduated as Valedictorian from Nekoosa High School, earned her bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University, and later earned teacher certification through St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin. Jean was a long-time oboist, organist and pianist, a member of the Fox Valley Symphony and Appleton City Band, played in a woodwind quintet and a recorder consort, and was the organist at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Appleton. She was also a member of Torch Club of the Fox Valley, Fortnightly Book Club, Sigma Alpha Iota, Alpha Chi Omega, Wednesday Musicale and PEO.

After growing up in Nekoosa, Wisconsin, Jean was an Appleton Resident for 27 years before moving to the Green Bay area, then returning to Appleton in 2000. She is survived by her daughter Tracy Ostwald (Jim) Kowald of Appleton; her son Ray (Leah) Ostwald of Lombard, Illinois; grandchildren: Joy Kowald, Paul Kowald and Audrey Ostwald; her brother Dale (Debra) Jepson of Appleton, and nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death was her beloved husband of 21 years, Howard Hardesty, brother Dr. Bernhart (Ann) Jepson of Dayton, Ohio, brother Gary Jepson and first husband Sam Ostwald.

Jean taught private piano and oboe lessons, composed the school song for Einstein Junior High School in Appleton, still played and sung today. She worked as an administrative assistant for multiple companies, was a medical transcriptionist, rode her motorcycles across the country and taught both beginning and advanced motorcycle rider courses. In her sixties, wanting a smaller motorcycle, she traded in her Honda Pacific Coast 900cc motorcycle for a smaller Honda Helix scooter, promptly naming the new one “Double” in honor of scientists Watson and Crick, who discovered the DNA double helix.

Jean loved knitting tiny caps for newborns at the hospital nursery, and she read books in great quantities, bemoaning the fact that her proofreader eye caught every misspelled word or typo, even the scholarly tomes on scientific subjects. Jean enjoyed participating in several medical research studies, including a national study for pain relief from fibromyalgia.

A Memorial Service for Jean will be held at The Fellowship (2600 E. Philip Lane) in Appleton at 4 PM, on Monday, November 2, 2026, with Rev Christina Leone-Tracy officiating. Visitation will begin at 3 PM directly at church. She will be laid to rest at Historic Riverside Cemetery in Appleton.