Jean D. Brainard, 96, North Manchester, Indiana, passed away on July 25, 2021 at Timbercrest
Healthcare Center in North Manchester. Born in North Manchester on April 10, 1925, Jean was the
daughter of the late Foster and Edna Marie (Westafer) Brown.
While living in California Jean met John M. Brainard. On June 1, 1946 the two wed and moved back
to Indiana. John worked for the Wabash City Police Department and later the Wabash County
Sheriff’s Department while Jean worked at General Tire in Wabash for eight years. The two were
married for twenty-seven years and had five children before John died on October 10, 1973, forever
changing Jean’s life.
After John’s passing, Jean moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas where she worked for Textar
Plastics for fourteen years before retiring in 1990. Later, in the early 90’s, Jean moved back to North
Manchester to be closer to family and friends.
Jean had a great sense of humor and was always smiling. She was an incredibly strong woman who
constantly had a positive attitude, a loving heart and thought of her friends as family. Jean enjoyed
shopping with friends and family, doing jigsaw puzzles with grandchildren, and cooking wonderful
sweets. She loved and adored her dog Andrew who was like another child to her. On Sundays when
her health allowed, Jean attended Congregational Christian Church, where she was a member.
The loving memory of Jean D. Brainard will be forever cherished by her sons, John (Patsy) Brainard,
Jr., Michael J. (Ma Fe) Brainard, Tom (Sue) Brainard, all of Wabash, Indiana, and Bill (Kathy
Demaline) Brainard, Holgate, Ohio; daughter, Anne (Vernon) Eckley, Bentonville, Arkansas; thirteen
grandchildren, twenty-six great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Jean was preceded
in death by her parents; husband, John Brainard; brothers, Dick and Don Brown; and one great-
grandchild.
Family and friends may call Thursday, July 29, 2021 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at McKee Mortuary,
1401 State Road 114 West, North Manchester, Indiana. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. on
Friday, July 30, 2021 at the Congregational Christian Church, 310 North Walnut Street, North
Manchester, Indiana with calling beginning at 9:00 a.m. Burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery, 600
Beckley Street, North Manchester.
For those who wish to honor the memory of Jean D. Brainard, memorial contributions may be made to
the Congregational Christian Church, 310 North Walnut Street, North Manchester, Indiana 46962 or
The Timbercrest Charitable Assistance Fund, P.O. Box 501, North Manchester, Indiana 46962.
The family of Jean D. Brainard has entrusted McKee Mortuary with care and final arrangements.