Jane Baldwin

Jane Bender Baldwin was born April 16, 1937, in Waterloo, Iowa to Dr. Henry A. Bender and his wife Bea Bender.  Jane joined siblings Paul and Geraldine.  The Lord called Jane home in the early hours of December 26, 2020.

Jane was educated in the Waterloo School system.  She graduated from West High School and was accepted to the University of Iowa School of Nursing.  Here she earned a B.S. Degree.

After graduation, Jane returned to Waterloo and began her nursing career in Home Health Care.  This part of nursing did not suit her so she became a floor nurse at Allan Hospital in Waterloo and that suited her just fine.

Wanderlust (or the Lord’s guidance?) came to Jane after one year at Allen Hospital.  She decided to follow a girl friend to Denver, Colorado.  She was hired as a nurse at Colorado General Hospital, found an apartment immediately adjacent to the apartment of her future husband Gene Baldwin (coincidence or guidance?).

Jane Bender and Gene Baldwin were married August 5, 1961.  Their first son, Robert, was born in Denver.  In July 1962, the family moved to the MW Ranch south of Newcastle, Wyoming.  While living at the ranch, a second son, Michael, was born.  Because of low cattle prices (have they ever been excessive?), the family moved to Newcastle.  Gene “held class” at Newcastle High School while Jane renewed her nursing career at the “old” hospital.  But most of all, Jane was a loving wife and mother.

Jane was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at the University of Iowa.  She was also a 50 year member of P.E.O.  She enjoyed meetings of the Daughters of the Nile.  Also on her list things to enjoy were two weeks in the summer visiting her cousin Marilyn Buckley and husband Paul Buckley at Lake Okoboji, Iowa.  She also enjoyed spending January and February visiting Robert and Teddie Baldwin and their family in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Henry A. Bender, her brother Paul Bender and her sister Geraldine Merner.  She is survived by her husband Gene, son Robert (Teddie) Baldwin of Phoenix, Arizona; son Michael (Rose) Baldwin of Newcastle, Wyoming; grandchildren Taylor (Cole) Patterson, Alexis Baldwin, Ben Baldwin, Pat (Whittney) Baldwin, Stephanie (Neil) Grundman, Gideon Baldwin, and five great grandchildren Isaac, Mark, Jonathan Baldwin and Cooper and Lynlee Grundman.

Due to the current Covid pandemic, a private service will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2021, with internment in Greenwood Cemetery in Newcastle.  A celebration of Jane’s life will be held in her memory later in the year.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Jane may be made to the Weston County Library, Weston County Humane Society, or charity of your choice.  Letters of condolences may be sent in care of Meridian Mortuary, 111 S. Railroad Ave., Newcastle, Wyoming, 82701.