Jean Marion Herder

Jean Marion Peterson Herder passed away on March 3, 2026 in Bloomington, Indiana. Born on January 16, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois, Jean was 85 years old when she died.

Jean grew up on the north side of Chicago in the Swedish area now known as Andersonville. It was a multi-generational household with Jean, her parents, Oscar and Joan Peterson, and her sister Patricia (Pat) living on the top floor of their house, and Jean’s grandparents living on the ground floor.

Oscar’s work would take the family to the northside of Indianapolis, where they moved into a home in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood. Jean did well in school, graduating from Shortridge High School in 1958. She had many interests, but art and ice skating were certainly among her favorites.

After high school Jean attended MacMurry College in Jacksonville, IL, and graduated with a BA in art.

Once back in Indianapolis, she met and fell in love with Gary Herder. They were married in 1965. Gary was drafted into the army and stationed at Ft. Sill, OK, serving as an artillery instructor. Jean joined Gary there and quickly made friends with all the neighborhood kids. Jean loved kids, and kids loved Jean. Gary was eventually sent to serve in Vietnam, and Jean returned to Indianapolis to live with Gary’s mother, Beaulah Hatton Herder, while overseeing the construction of a new house that she and Gary would move into when he returned home.

Gary did return home, and life returned to a normal rhythm of work and enjoying friends and family. In 1975 Jean and Gary sponsored a Vietnamese refugee, Hien Duong, and he instantly became a cherished member of the family.

Jean worked in HR at the Indiana Blood Center for many years, eventually retiring from that organization and going to work with Gary at his businesses, Indiana Electrical Sales and Community Agricultural Services.

Jean and Gary would have made excellent parents, but unfortunately they didn't have kids of their own. This fact, however, worked out quite well for their nieces and nephews. “Aunt Jean and Uncle Gary” were always inviting the kids over for something fun or attending events the kids were involved in. They certainly made their nieces and nephews (and later their kids too) feel special. There was almost always a family member living with them. Perhaps stemming from her childhood experience, Jean liked living in a multi-generational home.

Jean enjoyed entertaining. Family and friends will always remember her Christmas Eve parties, a don’t-miss annual event that went on for decades.

Jean loved dogs, especially boxers and pugs, and shared her home with several over the years. She remained a lifelong fan of ice skating and developed an avid interest in motor sports and sailing. She and Gary were members of the Indianapolis Sailing Club (ISC), owned an Interlake class boat, and competed in ISC club regattas. For many years, Jean’s artistic outlet was doing needlepoint. She was remarkably skilled. Family and friends cherish the needlepoint pieces she gave them.

Jean was a strong woman, not afraid to speak her mind and determined to get what she wanted for herself and for others.

Over the last several years, her life became more and more difficult as she struggled with dementia. As so often happens, she became unable to maintain her supportive role in the family. She herself needed care and assistance but found it difficult to accept. She did allow one person to look after her in her final years, Kady Lane, a trusted friend who had lived with Jean and Gary for several years in the late 1980s.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, husband, her nephew John K. Herder, Jr., and her sister-in-law, Margaret Herder. She is survived by her sister Patricia (Pat) Sloo (husband Terry); nieces and nephews: Dr. Carrie Zuckerman (husband Jeff), Scott Sloo, and Le Isaac Weaver (wife Lisa DeWeese); brother-in-law John Herder; family members Hien and Nga Duong (daughter Dr. Jane Duong, husband Dr. Sean Curtis); friend and caregiver Kady Lane (wife Patricia Krahnke); and several beloved great- and great-great nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held on Monday, March 9, at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Indianapolis. Jean and Gary had big hearts, so in lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to the charity of your choice.