Jeanne Youngerman, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on September 14 at her home in Silverton, Oregon surrounded by many of her children and grandchildren. She was 94 years old.

Jeanne was born November 13th, 1931 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to Mary A. Brown and Leslie V. Fulker. She was one of five children and grew up with deep roots in South Dakota. On July 18th, 1949, she married Theodore R. Youngerman. Together, they built their family and shared many years of life before Ted’s passing.

Following Ted’s death in 1970, Jeanne moved from Rapid City, South Dakota, to Salem, Oregon, to be closer to her brothers and sisters. She eventually made her home in Silverton, Oregon, where she created many cherished memories with her family.

Jeanne had a lifelong love of learning and a particular love of books and the written word. She was often reading two or more books at once, happily moving between stories and subjects that interested her. Her Webster’s dictionary was never far away. Whenever she encountered an unfamiliar word, she would stop to look it up—a reflection of her curiosity and her belief that there was always something new to learn.

Her curiosity extended well beyond her books. Jeanne could turn almost any conversation into a spontaneous research project. A word, a song, or the name of someone from history might pique her interest, and before long, someone would hear her ask, “Could you ‘Google’ that up for me?” It became one of those familiar expressions that her family came to know and love. She was always curious, always learning, and somehow managed to keep the rest of us learning with her.

Jeanne also cherished her German heritage and the family history passed down through generations. She took pride in her roots, which reached back to the German communities of the Odessa region and the steppes, as well as in the generations who came before her. This connection to her family’s history was another meaningful part of her life.

Jeanne had a lifelong love of music, especially the big-band sounds of Glenn Miller. She loved spontaneous dances during the holidays and was always ready to swing or jitterbug when someone was willing to join her. Those impromptu dances were some of the joyful moments that brought her—and everyone around her—so much happiness.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore R. Youngerman; her sons, Steve Youngerman and Scott Youngerman; her grandchildren, Michael Youngerman and Christina Youngerman; her parents, Mary and Les Fulker; and her sister, Delores Weisgram.

She is survived by her children: Debra (Chuck) Cederburg, Rebecca Hammond, Joel (Penny) Youngerman, Keri Luttrell, Gregg Youngerman, and Laurie (Robert) Albrich.

She is also survived by her three living siblings: Sarah Thornburg of Dallas, Oregon; Jim Fulker of Surprise, Arizona; and Rick Fulker of Schütz, Germany.

Her grandchildren include Kristi (Frank) Primley, Robyn (Andreas) Lauer, Steve Jr. (Angela) Youngerman, Samara (Barrett) Adams, Nathan Hammond, Justin Hammond, Milo (Detlef) Rice, Brady Youngerman, Jordan (Jessica) Albrich, Brenna (Blake) Bearham, and James Albrich, along with her many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Jeanne’s life was long, full, and rich with family, books, learning, music, and a deep appreciation for her heritage. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished.

A private memorial will be held at a later date to celebrate Jeanne’s life and memory.

One of our Mom’s favorite quotes was, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.” These were the words she so often left us with, and perhaps they say more about her than anything else could. They reflected a spirit that met life head-on, pushed forward through challenges, and never gave up. As her children, we will forever hear her voice in those words and carry them with us as a reminder of the woman she was and the strength she instilled in us. And now, as we say goodbye to Mom, we send her off with the very words she gave to us: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.”