April 4, 1940 – December 3, 2024
Wife of Rev. Richard C. Andrus, Jean Helen (Van Petten) Andrus, age 84, of Battle Creek, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, from complications associated with Lewy Body Dementia, surrounded by her loving husband, Richard Andrus, her daughter, Deb Root, and granddaughter, Jessica Metzger.
Jean’s life was dedicated to serving the underprivileged and the marginalized in our society—as a nurse, a social worker, a member of several United Methodist Churches and as a board member of several community and professional organizations. She was dedicated to improving the mental health of those challenged with psychiatric and behavioral health conditions and women and children living in domestic abuse and homeless shelters.
Jean was born on April 4, 1940, to Erwin and Molly Van Petten of Gilford, Michigan. Her first foray into service occurred while attending Fairgrove High School, where Jean played the trombone in the school band, and volunteered in, and became a state officer of, Future Homemakers of America (FHA).
Jean then began her nursing career in 1957, training at Saginaw General Hospital. After marrying Richard in July 1958 and beginning a family in Reese, Michigan, she completed her nurses’ training in Lansing, earning a degree as a registered nurse in 1972. Over her career as a nurse, Jean worked in a family medical practice, as a nursing director at a skilled nursing facility, and at a private psychiatric hospital.
Jean then obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work through Wayne State University and while working at the Psychiatric Center of Michigan, she started the first adolescent psychiatric unit at that facility. Jean later completed a second master’s degree at Central Michigan University in Health Care Administration. This led her to completing her career at Detroit Children’s Hospital, Home Health Care of Michigan, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. While at Blue Cross Blue Shield, she started that entity’s first-ever “24-Hour Nurse Call In Hot Line.”
Jean’s passion for helping the homeless and underprivileged included being a founding board member of and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity of Macomb County, Turning Point (a women’s and children’s domestic abuse shelter), and the Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team.
Jean was also active in the United Methodist Church at both the local church and conference levels—participating in United Methodist Women, teaching Sunday School, and ringing bells in several bell choirs. When she and Richard retired in 1999 and moved to Fruitland Park, Florida, she spent several years as the treasurer and a board member of the homeowners’ association in the park where she and Richard lived.
In 2023, Jean and Richard moved to the Heritage Assisted Living Facility to be near family. Jean is survived by her husband of 66 years, Richard, their four children; Samuel (Suzie) Andrus, Cynthia (Joel) Thick, Beth Andrus (Mark Fleming) and Deborah Root, their 8 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 pm Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Battle Creek First United Methodist Church, with a meal to follow the service. Memorial gifts can be sent to Battle Creek FUMC at 111 East Michigan Ave. Battle Creek, Michigan 49014.
Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 2838 Capital Ave SW, Battle Creek, Michigan.
Online condolences can be shared at Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services.
Last Updated on December 5, 2024