Obituaries : Jean Vaerk

Jean Vaerk went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 15, 2026. A visitation will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home on Saturday, March 28th, 2026, from 1:00-3:00 PM, followed by a graveside service at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. 

Jean was born to Fred and Nellie Kness on June 7th, 1932. She was number six of eleven children. Jean graduated from McKinley High School in Cedar Rapids. For most of her career she worked in Human Resources at Target and retired in 1996. 

Jean married Richard McIntyre in her earlier adult years. From this union, she had a daughter, Kristene, in 1949. Her and Richard later divorced. In 1974, she married Lembit Vaerk in Rock Island, Illinois, and shared many happy years with him before his passing in 2006.

In her younger days, Jean was quite a bowler. During her retirement, she greatly enjoyed gardening, baking cookies, and canning every home-grown food that she could. She loved bingo and played three times a week. 

She was a long-time member of Trinity St. James United Methodist Church, an active volunteer and parishioner. 

Jean is preceded in death by her husband, Lembit; her parents, Fred and Nellie; and nine siblings.

She is survived by her daughter, Kristene (Kirk) Rosel; two grandchildren, Jody McFarland and Kelly Glass (Jim Zeman); one great-grandson, Justice McFarland; her sister, Delores Korsmo-Wright; and many bonus family members, six step-great-grandchildren and five step-great-great grandchildren. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Suncrest Hospice. The family would like to thank them for the kindness and care they gave Jean. The family would also like to thank Prairie Hills Assisted Living for caring for Jean over the years.