Jacquetta Jean Strifert (Jackie) Halverson, 97, died on August 13, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. A private burial will be at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell, Iowa.

Jackie was born on February 24, 1926, in Sioux City, Iowa, the only child of Harold and Lonita Strifert. She was a graduate of Sioux City Central High School. She received her bachelor's degree in science with a focus on chemistry at Iowa State University. She was a talented concert pianist through her teenage and college years.

She was doing cancer research and taking graduate coursework at Iowa State when she met her husband, Gordon Monroe Halverson. They were married in 1949, less than a year after meeting. The couple moved to Grinnell, where he began a research program in hybrid corn for Cargill. They raised a family of four children.

Jackie was a longstanding member of Grinnell United Methodist Church. She worked at Grinnell General Hospital in medical records and as office manager at Bower & Wilson surgeons in Grinnell. Jackie was also a member of P.E.O. Chapter JB, Grinnell. An avid sports fan, she had a special affinity for anything related to the Hawkeyes of The University of Iowa, her children's alma mater. One of her favorite daily rituals was to comb the sports section of the newspaper for Hawkeye news and stats. In later years, she was also a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. She had a lilting laugh which sounded as if she were singing. She loved dogs and was always up for dog sitting her granddogs. And she was an excellent cook.

A truly selfless person, Jackie always put her family first. She will be dearly missed by her family, all of whom were able to spend quality time with her in Kansas City this summer.

Survivors include three children, Kerry (Cindie) Halverson of Kansas City, Missouri, Gail (Bill) Wien of Fairway, Kansas, and Bart (Diana) Halverson of Kansas City, Missouri; three grandchildren, Matthew (Trisha) Halverson of Seattle, Washington, Christopher (Angela) Halverson of Royal Oak, Michigan, and Lauren Halverson of Kansas City, Missouri; and four great grandsons, Gregory and Bennett Halverson of Seattle, and Graham and Finn Halverson of Royal Oak. She was preceded in death by her husband Gordon in 2010 and one son, Gregory Halverson, in 1972.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in her name be made to Saint Luke's Hospice House Foundation and mailed to 901 E. 104th St, #100S, Kansas City, Missouri 64131.