Regina “Jeannie” Whitman, 84, a long-time resident of Gurnee, IL, passed away September 19, 2018 at her home at The Palms Senior Living Residence.
Born in 1933 in Doylestown, OH, after graduation from high school, Jeannie continued her education at Kent State University and received a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education.
Jeannie taught primary school specializing in both first and second grades. She was very instrumental in the development of the first kindergarten program in southeast Florida in the late 50’s. Additionally, she taught the children who were living with their parents in Japan on one of the United States Air Force bases for four years. After returning from Japan, she settled outside of Chicago where she taught for over forty years, retiring in the early 90’s.
Jeannie loved playing the piano. She was in many book clubs and an avid reader. She also loved to buy books for under privileged children, so their parents could read to them and help them learn. When speaking about her teaching, she always called the children in her classes “her children”. She enjoyed going to the beach and loved to have sand in her toes.
Jeannie is survived by her nieces and nephews, Kurt Whitman, Diane Turner, Sue Hurter, Mary Van Allen and Joanne Whitman; several grandnieces and grandnephews, who brought her great joy in her later years.
A funeral service will be held at Ponte Vedra Valley, Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests donations be made to the “Pajama Program” an organization that delivers pajamas and books to children throughout the United States www.pajamaprogram.org
