Jean Hurlbut will celebrate her 100th birthday on April 12 with a Birthday Breakfast following morning worship at the Garwin Christian Church on April 12. She is pictured alongside photos of her family.

Jean Hurlbut is a Garwin icon. She is a Mother, Grandma, beloved babysitter, champion pie baker, active member of Garwin Christian Church and a friend to all. And she will celebrate her 100th birthday on April 17. Garwin Christian Church members invite the public to attend a birthday celebration for Jean on Sunday, April 12. The century milestone event will take place following the 7:30 AM regular church services. A breakfast and time of fellowship will be held in the Church Fellowship Hall. . Jean Ward was born at the St. Thomas Hospital in Marshalltown and grew up and attended school in Albion. She says she is the last living member of her class. Jean married Clarence Hurlbut and they became parents to five sons. She says, “My boys are all retired.” Richard lives with his Mother in Garwin; John is in Fairbanks, Alaska; Brian lives in La Mont, Texas; Norris resides in Fulton, Illinois; and Earl lives on the home farm near Garwin. Jean quickly adds, “I was 40 when Earl was born. The boys are twelve years apart”. When queried about grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Jean pondered a bit then quipped, “Hard to say. Let’s just say I have several. Kind of like Grandma used to say – you throw things in the air and they just scatter. That’s the way it is with Grandchildren.” Life on the farm was hard and Jean said, “We had five boys to raise and we had nothing. I even tried to feed Clarence oatmeal for breakfast and supper. And he was a bacon and eggs man.” Jean’s health began to fail and she says, “Dr. Barbari told me if I would quit working so hard on the farm and move to town, I might feel better. That was 40 years ago.” Following the move to Garwin, Jean became a much loved baby-sitter. When asked how many children she usually watched, she quickly said, “I never was licensed and I never knew from one day to the next. Remember one day when I was having trouble getting lunch on for the kids and I called my friend to help for just thirty minutes. She came right over and you know, she counted heads and she had 25 children!” Jean continued her baby-sitting until she turned 75. She has remained active, but admits she has very limited vision. Her hearing is aided by hearing aids, but she adds, “I have not listened to TV or radio for seven years. It is just too hard to catch all they say with their jiberty-jabber.” When asked what her advice would be to live to be 100, she laughed and said, “Maybe it was all that oatmeal! But you know we all need to learn to get along with one another. That’s the whole world over.” Pretty sage advice for a remarkable lady who is about to enter into another century of living! Well wishes and cards may be sent to Jean Hurlbut, 207 Center Street, Garwin, IA 50632