Jeanne Frances Paggen, age 82, passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at Allure Nursing Home in Moline, Illinois. Jean was born January 14, 1944 in Cokato, Minnesota, the second of five children of Raymond F. and Marie E. (Dehler) Paggen. She attended school at Holy Trinity Elementary in Winsted, MN, one year at St. Adalbert Elementary in Silver Lake, MN, and thru grade 8 at St. Joseph Elementary in Silver Lake. She graduated from Silver Lake High School in 1961.

Following graduation Jean worked as nursing assistant at several nursing homes, including in St. Paul, MN and at St. Mary’s in Winsted, MN. During these years she also pursued her artistic ambitions with an ”Instruction by Mail” course from Art Instruction School. She loved to draw and especially paint, skills at which she became highly proficient and which she continued to demonstrate up to the last few months of her life.

In 1965 Jean completed a course for Occupational Therapy Assistant. Shortly after, she obtained a position as Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) in Rock Island, Illinois, resulting in her making Rock Island her permanent home. She briefly worked in the Chicago area and for a year in Morris, Minnesota. But she returned to Rock Island, a city she loved with a population for which she had great affection.

She worked a few years planning activities at the Martin Luther King Center and then moved into the Rock Island City Government Center as Assistant City Clerk. After several years as assistant, she was promoted to Rock Island City Clerk, a position she held for many years until her retirement in 2006. She very much enjoyed her work as City Clerk, as she was a “people person” who enjoyed working and meeting with elected officials and so many city employees, including members of the police and fire departments, first responders whom she greatly appreciated. As City Clerk, she also formed many friendships with members of the Rock Island business community. Jean was named “Rock Island 1992 Citizen of the Year” and served as Grand Marshal of the 1992 Parade.

Throughout her time in Rock Island, Jean was a devoted member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, for which she volunteered many hours of time and talent. She created personalized greeting cards which she sent on behalf of the parish to parishioners on special occasions, she greeted new parishioners by phone, and she used her artistic talent for decorative face painting for children at church festivals. She was also a regular Greeter at weekend masses.

As her health deteriorated, Jean was forced to move to assisted living at Heritage Woods in Moline, Illinois, where she continued with her painting. She taught painting classes to residents and was elected President of the Resident Association. As her condition worsened, she moved to Allure of Quad Cities Nursing Home in Moline, where she died.

Jean is survived by a sister, Patricia Moran and a brother, Ronald, both of Hutchinson, Minnesota and a brother, Kevin, of St. Cloud, Minnesota. Also surviving are 3 nieces and 4 nephews, several grand nephews and nieces, many cousins, and many friends, especially her close friend, Kim Block. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Judith, and sister-in-law Bernadine Paggen.

Visitation will be held at Wheelan-Pressley Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Ave, Rock Island from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Church of the Sacred Heart, 2810 5th Ave., Rock Island, on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. A Memorial Mass for Jean will be held at a later date in Minnesota, followed by interment at Holy Family Cemetery, Silver Lake, Minnesota.  A memorial fund will be established.  Arrangements are provided by Wheelan-Pressley Funeral Home and Crematory of Rock Island, Illinois.