06/23/2025
Marjorie Jean Whisman was four months short of 99 years of age, born on October 15, 1926 when leaving us on June 13, 2025. We were hopeful she’d surpass the landmark age of 100, “striding” by us as she often did just walking down the hall.
She was born to Henry and Lois Hathaway in Buchanan County, MO. The family moved to a farm in Daviess County, MO, in the early 1930s, which she shared with her parents and younger brother, Bill.
She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 75 years, her son John Whisman, father Henry Hathaway, mother Lois Hathaway, stepmother Crystal Hathaway, brother Bill Hathaway, and sister-in-law Shirley Hathaway. She leaves behind her son Fred (Linda ), as well as grandchildren Meagan Sanderson (Andy) and Jeffrey Whisman (Amanda), plus nephew Boyd Hathaway and niece Lois Ann Stark and their families.
She attended school in Jameson, Missouri and graduated from the Jameson High School. She often would ride her horse Mickey to school, a black saddlebred that “was tall, sleek, and fast,”unless he was needed by her father to work on the farm that day. Before that she had to walk “through waist high snow there and back.” She was a farm girl often working along side her dad and even more often, she told us, she would finish work not completed by the brother she loved, Bill, “who got by with a light load.” Working hard, always finishing the job, never shirking her responsibilities traits learned on the farm followed her in all that she did as a wife and mother. She could also be perfectly coiffed, elegantly dressed when needed, or the perfect lovely hostess. That was also Jean Whisman. And above everything else, caring for her family and putting everyone else above her needs was the most important aspect of her life.
She met her husband Frederick Whisman, (Sr.) while working in Kansas City at the Stowe Hardware Company. They married and later bought a home in the late ‘40s and soon started a family with the birth of Fred and then John. Her husband eventually changed jobs and the family relocated to Colorado for a few years before returning to Kansas City in the 1960s when they bought a home in Briarcliff. In the 1970s the Metzner Stove Company was added to the business and Jean not only cared for her sons and took care of the home, she also worked with her husband to expand the business. Eventually when both boys were on their own, they sold their home in Kansas City and bought a farm between Kearney and Excelsior Springs Missouri.
She supported her husband’s love of music when he joined the Heart of America Barbershop Chorus. She was voted Heartbeat of the Year in 1991 for her role in the HOA ladies auxiliary, the Heartbeats, and continued to be one of the organization’s strongest cheerleaders attending support meetings, attending concerts, and traveling to national competitions with her husband until sadly he was no longer able to participate. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and two boys often flying to a destination in their Piper Cherokee 180 with her husband as pilot. Both Jean and Fred also loved and enjoyed their many critters, including cattle and house pets Fizzer, the dachshund, Mr. Bones the cat, and Gertie the goose.
She continued to be there not only for her husband, sons, and daughter in-law, but for her grandchildren Meagan and Jeffrey as well. She modeled qualities of hard work and meeting responsibilities as well as providing farm experiences and sharing her love and skills for cooking, sewing, gardening, embroidery, and catching that “big fish.” (She was often complemented on her embroidered sweatshirts by friends and family.) She instilled in them to love family above all else and to respect one another. She did this for all of us. She cherished her time with family whether it was to be part of a family gathering, a lunch out, a visit to our family’s vineyard, or to just sit by the river in Parkville, she was always ready to go. She would have that smile on her face we all loved, her pony tail swinging, and say, “it’s a pretty day,” and yes it certainly was when being with her.
We shall all miss our sweet lady.
The graveside service will be at White Chapel Cemetery 6600 Antioch Rd. Gladstone MO 64119, on Wednesday, June 25th at 10:30. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to: SPEBSQSA (Society for the Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America), Disabled Veterans (USN), or American Alzheimer’s Association. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
