Jean E. Schlottmann

Jean Elizabeth Gordon Schlottmann passed away May 3, 2026 in Virden Ill. She was 98.

Jean was born October 20, 1927 to Aurora Vandermoer and Ernest R. Gordon in El Paso, Texas.

The daughter of a mining engineer, she spent much of her first eight years in Mexico living at several mining camps. Her fondest memories were of times lived in Guanajuato where outlaws were stymied when she and her mother drive gold shipments to town, beneath their feet in the family car, while an armored car made the same trip empty.

Mexico was just the beginning of a life filled with travel and adventure. Jean attended the University of Arizona for two years then accompanied her parents to the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in Africa and to England.

In 1947, she enrolled at the Texas College of Mining where she met Jerome “Jay” Schlottmann, a geology student. During summer break, she joined her parents in Bolivia. In the fall, she reunited with Jay. They were married in 1949. The marriage would last 62 years.

Jean began a life-long teaching career. In 1950 they welcomed their son Jerome, Jr., in 1952 their daughter Judy and in 1954 the youngest daughter Jamie.

They raised their family in Colorado, moving from town to town as Jay’s career in geology moved around the state. While Jay was searching for rocks, Jean resumed teaching. She excelled at teaching her “little people,” first and second graders.

After retirement the couple traveled to Alaska, Russia, New Zealand and Australia. And, Jean, ever the teacher, taught English literacy to immigrants. Jay died in 2014.

In 2020 Jean moved to Virden, Illinois to be near her daughter Judy.

She was predeceased by her parents and her oldest grandson James Derrek Schlottmann.

She is survived by her son Jerome D. Jr. (Gwenn), Daughters: Judy Chosewood and Jamie (Jim) Norvell, four grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.