June F. Nearman

Jefferson, S.D. -- June Faith (Thies) Nearman, 88, of Jefferson passed peacefully to her heavenly home surrounded by family on Monday, December 31, 2012. Her greatest legacy is what she gave the world through her love, devotion and faith, most importantly the large family she built of kind, moral, hard-working Christian citizens to serve in her wake for generations to come.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Jefferson, with the Fr. David L. Roehrich officiating. Burial in St. Peter’s Cemetery will be immediately following. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with the family present at 6 p.m. and parish vigil service at 7 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Christy-Smith Berkemeir Chapel.
June was born June 10, 1924, on the Jackley farmstead southwest of Ashton, Ia., to August and Anne (Jackley) Thies. She began attending rural school at age four, often on her own with the guidance of her horse Bessie. She welcomed the addition of three brothers, and was an attentive sister. The family ultimately relocated to Ashton, where after skipping two grades, she graduated from St. Joseph’s High School as valedictorian at age 15.
June dreamed of attending a dramatic arts school in Chicago when she was old enough and had enough money to go to college. With this goal in mind, she became a photographer’s assistant at Norman Barnes Studio in Sibley, Ia., at the rate of $1 per week. There, she learned the trade of enlarging, developing and tinting photographs, as well as modeling for photos used in studio advertising.
At the age of 13, June traveled the distant 70 miles to rural South Dakota for an extended visit with her Karpen cousins. While there, she met neighbor Mick Nearman and immediately fell in love -- with his horse Roanie. Mickey would give June horseback rides and she soon learned to love him, as well. When Mickey returned from his tour of duty during World War II, they were married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ashton on her birthday on June 10, 1946. June was swept away to Jefferson, where she would spend the rest of her life at their bustling redwood farmhouse as the children and grandchildren came fast and furiously. She never had the desire to work outside the house again, preferring to be home raising her 10 active children, overseeing her horses and an array domestic and farm animals, as well as presiding over the spirited antics for which the Nearman home was known.
June was a lifelong public servant, supporting her church, community and country since first enrolling in the American Legion Auxiliary at age six. She was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church for 66 years. She actively participated in the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, as well the Jefferson School Board and St. Peter’s Mother’s Club. June was a member of the Extension Club, a woman’s Farm Bureau organization, and a member of the Southernettes women’s social group most of her adult life. She will be remembered for dedicated work fundraising, notably selling crepe paper poppies every Memorial Day advocating patriotism and continued recognition for the sacrifices made by America’s veterans like her husband.
June was gifted with a creative mind and enjoyed growing flowers, decorating, cooking, writing and other handwork. No matter what the task -- from painting a wall to sending a letter -- it was done artfully. Once her children were grown, she enjoyed traveling whenever time allowed, visiting friends and family from Boston to Hawaii.
June was a gracious hostess, welcoming anyone and everyone in her home. Her table was never empty or without laughter. Whether it was an elaborate country supper, an impromptu cup of coffee, a roaring game of cards, or a late night of storytelling, the kitchen was a cherished place to be, and there was “always room for one more chair.”
Her absence at the farm will be missed deeply by the families of her 10 children and their spouses, Marcia and Virgil Mollet Jr. of Jefferson, Michael and Mary Nearman of Cumming, Ga., Craig and Vicki Nearman of Elk Point, S.D., Scott and Chris Nearman of Elk Point, Marilyn Scott of Jefferson, Todd Nearman of Jefferson, Tama and Tim Zeller of Elk Point, Jana Nearman of Valencia, Ca., Jaclyn and Tom Corio of Elk Point, and Brett and Laura Nearman of Jefferson.
June’s greatest pride and joy were in her 50 grandchildren and their spouses, Tosha and Monte Neitzel, Nicholas Neitzel and Lucas Neitzel; Gil and Diane Mollet, Samantha and Justin Hargrave, Courtney Mollet; Michael Mollet, Chrystian Mollet; Marc and Kristen Mollet, Johannah Mollet, Mia Mollet; Nicole and Bradley MacAfee, Haley MacAfee, Emma MacAfee; Shawn Nearman; Nathan and Nicole Nearman; Kathryn and Bob Steinbrecher, MacKenzie Steinbrecher; Joshua and Heidi Nearman, Ally Nearman, Andrew Nearman, Hannah Nearman; Cari and Trent Snaza, Lilly Snaza, Kellen Snaza, Jace Snaza; Megan and David Powers, Abby Powers, Jacob Powers; Belinda and Dennis Johnson, Jory Bertrand, Colby Grant, Shayla Johnson, Brenna Joy Johnson; Stacey and Doug Langley, Gavin Langley, Bryer Langley; Jill Scott and Curtis Hoogendoorn; Lisa Scott; Ashley Zeller; Emily Zeller; Amy June Zeller; Paige Piontkowsky; John Piontkowsky; Zachary Corio; Michelle Corio; Maria Corio; Kate Corio; Amber Nearman; and Charles Nearman.
June also will be remembered by her loving brother and his wife Terry and Harriet Thies of Laguna Niguel, Ca.; brother-in-law Charles Nearman and his wife Carol of Reno, Nv.; brother-in-law Russ Lehman of Cedar Rapids, Ia.; and several nieces and nephews.
June was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband Bernard “Mickey” Charles Nearman; brothers Junior and Orvalee Thies; sisters-in-law Charlotte Lee, Mary Lehman; and granddaugther Ashley Zeller