JEANETTE KILGORE, 79 of North Platte, passed away Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Centennial Court in North Platte.
Jeanette was born April 18, 1942, at Wallace, Nebraska, to Herbert Albert August and Eunice Irene (Pace) Hasenauer. She attended Wallace High School.
She began her adult life by marrying DeWayne Dawson, and their union was blessed with three sons, Billy Lee, Tony, and Troy. The family frequently moved throughout the next several years as DeWayne served in the Air Force.
Jeanette married John Robert Kilgore Sr. on December 2, 1972, at the Wallace Methodist Church. In 1985, the family moved to Dundy County, where John pastored the churches at Benkelman and Max. He also pastored in his retirement in Maywood and Wellfleet. In 2017, Jeanette and John moved to Centennial Court in North Platte.
Jeanette was a wonderful woman who found her own ministry while accompanying John. Ever a listening ear and a warm heart, Jeanette had a way of meeting people where they were in life and showing them grace and love. She was also a mainstay with the United Methodist Women.
Jeanette went on to be director of the Senior Center and later cook at the school. She was so good at her job cooking that the mothers of the students often requested her recipes. She and her sisters eventually opened a cafe in downtown Wallace, The Fat Sisters Cafe.
Jeanette had an appreciation for silly humor and had her unique way of marking special events with silly cakes and gag gifts; she made life fun. Jeanette was a collector of many things, most notably: crosses, dolls, salt & pepper shakers, and Pinocchios.
Jeanette was a wonderful mother and the best 'Granner' anyone could ask for.
Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John Kilgore; son, Billy Lee Dawson; son-in-law, Gary Pella; granddaughter, Elisabeth; brother, Clinton Hasenauer; and brother-in-law, Ed Weir.
Survivors include her children, Pastor Tony (Kathryn) Dawson of York, Dr. Troy (Heather) Dawson of Neligh, John (Kay) Kilgore Jr. of MD, Peg Kilgore-Pella of MO, Michael (Fredda) Kilgore of OH; 14 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; sister, Vee Weir of Wallace; brother, Leonard (Joan) Hasenauer of Amarillo, TX; sister-in-law, Mary Hasenauer of Wallace; adopted sister, Lee Hunziker; along with many other relatives and good friends.
A memorial has been established in her memory with the intent to support the Wallace United Methodist Church Parsonage Fund and Granddaughter's (Elisa's young daughter's) Education Fund. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com, where the service will be streamed live.
Services will be Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 10:00 am at Wallace United Methodist Church in Wallace, NE. Inurnment will be in the Morning View Cemetery in Wallace, NE.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant is in charge of arrangements.