Obituary of Jean Lee Lex

Jean Lee Lex, 79, of Wadsworth, IL, passed from this world into the arms of her Savior on January 4, 2022. Jean was born August 21, 1942, in Waukegan, IL and grew up in Winthrop Harbor, IL. She was saved at a young age and attended Grace Missionary Church in Zion, IL. She attended Winthrop Harbor grade schools and Zion Benton High School where she was a cheerleader and in Civil Air Patrol. Jean graduated from Zion Benton in 1960 and went to work for the Defense Department at Great Lake Naval Training Center where she met her husband, Thomas Lex, Sr. who was stationed at the base with the Marine Corps. Jean and Tom were married in Zion on September 18, 1965. After moving to a few locations with the Marine Corps, Jean and Tom finally settled in Waukegan, IL where they built their first home with the help of Jean’s father, Raymond Curran and she became a homemaker. Throughout Tom’s Marine Corps career, Jean would support him and help in many ways behind the scenes. She was awarded a special commendation from VMGR 234 in the 1990’s for her voluntary contributions to the unit. Jean was always known for her willingness to help others; she would help Tom Sr. with banquets, cut grass with the landscaping business she and Tom Sr. owned, and help at school functions while Tom Jr. was growing up. She spent countless hours taking Tom Jr. to and from piano lessons and school functions. Jean volunteered time at Camp Zion and she and Tom Sr. worked with the Jr. High youth group at Christ Community Church. Jean also helped behind the scenes with applying makeup to the actors in the Zion Passion Play. Jean was known for her care for others and would pray with many of the women from their church and the Zion Benton American Legion Auxiliary Unit 865. Jean loved serving her country and she was currently President of the Auxiliary Unit and former Vice-President, Secretary, and Chaplain. Jean was always present behind the scenes at Memorial Day services and other American Legion functions handing out programs. She and Tom Sr. would deliver Christmas and Easter gifts to veterans in the local nursing homes, gather items for food and clothing drives, and serve by placing flags at Memorial Park in Zion and on the graves of local fallen veterans. Jean loved her family dearly and was truly a servant, spending many years caring for her aging father and mother, her special needs brother, and her beloved husband, Tom Sr. Jean was preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Gladys Curran, and she leaves behind her husband of 56 years, Tom Sr., her son Tom Jr. and daughter-in-law Christy Lex, grandchildren Brenna Lex, Braeden Lex, and Bryan Lex, sister Gayle DeNardis, brothers Raymond Curran and Ronald Curran, and many relatives and friends. Jean left a copy of this in her Bible - “When I come to the end of my journey and I travel my last weary mile, just forget if you can, that I ever frowned and only remember the smile. Forget unkind words I have spoken; Remember some good I have done. Forget that I ever had heartache and remember I’ve had loads of fun. Forget that I stumbled and blundered and sometimes fell by the way. Remember I have fought some hard battles and won, ere the close of the day. Then forget to grieve for my going, I would not have you sad for a day, but in summer just gather some flowers and remember the place where I lay. And come in the shade of evening when the sun paints the sky in the west, stand for a few moments bedside me and remember only my best.” Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, from 10:00 until 11:00 AM at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Rd, Zion, IL. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM with Pastor Dan Duncan, officiating. Internment procession to Mt. Olivet Memorial Park, 1436 Kenosha Rd, Zion will follow. If you have fond memories of Jean you would like to share with the family for a memory book, please write or type your memories and bring them to the service where there will be a collection box. If you cannot attend the service, please contact Tom Jr for the home address or email address.