Jean Rose Zyla
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, that is success.”
Jean Rose Zyla, aka “Willie” and “Scooter” the clown, known to loved ones as “Jeannie”, “Gentle Flower”, and “Beautiful Lady”, was born July 31, 1949, in Chicago, IL, as Dale Leslie Williamson. She passed away peacefully at home May 18, 2021 after a brave cancer journey.
Jean was a vibrant, classy, intelligent, loving, generous, creative, playful spirit who made the world a kinder, more loving, more fun place. Among the many who cherished her warm hugs, radiant smile, bubbling laughter, sparkling eyes, and sense of adventure are her parents Marjorie Virginia (nee Pitt) and Wesley Ross Williamson (pre-deceased), sister and brother-in-law Debra and Andrew Singleton, niece and nephew Alexis and Sean Singleton, great-niece Harley, and beloved partner Dean DePew.
Jean offered safe haven for many a ‘wayward’ being, ‘leaned in’ compassionately, and listened deeply. She savored being alive and lived fully - enjoying and loving her family, friends, her cats, clowning, hugs, laughter, puns, swing dancing, Nature, playgrounds, creativity, making beautiful and functional things (woodworking, sewing, stained glass), world travel, gardening, real estate, personal growth, community volunteering, deep connections, and adventures – from skydiving to scuba diving (and lots in between).
A member of Cousin Otto’s Clown Alley for over 30 years, Jean loved volunteer clowning in parades, church functions, clown ministry, burn camps, and other venues. She delighted many with her Hug Coupons, silly jokes, rainbow costumes, rainbow scooter, and her “Zyla-phone”.
Jean believed every experience is an opportunity to grow and she loved to learn. After graduating Wheeling High School (IL, 1967), she attended Beloit College, Blackhawk Technical College (AA, computer programming, 1983), Lake Forest Graduate School of Management (MBA, 1995), as well as countless (!) investment, real estate, and personal-development courses.
Jean had many suitors and several significant long-term relationships in her life. Through each of them, she learned, grew, and became stronger. Jean and her fiancé Dean DePew met in late 2018, cherished each other deeply, and learned much from each other in her last two years.
Having started her career as a USPS supervisor for 12 years, she then re-invented herself as a computer programmer, technical writer, and IT project manager for much of her career. On her cancer journey, she was amazed that she herself had written or edited technical manuals for many medical machines used in her diagnosis and treatment!
In recent years, Jean was a real estate investor (Homes for Life LLC), specializing in rehabbing and flipping houses to create affordable homes. Her own beautiful home in Milwaukee was one she gutted, re-designed herself, renovated from the studs out to be ADA accessible, planned to sell, but instead moved into and enjoyed herself. She was well-loved in every neighborhood she lived.
Jean was loved and is deeply missed by so many. Per her wishes, Jean’s body was donated for science to the Medical College of Wisconsin. Jean’s Celebration of Life, delayed by the pandemic, will be at 1:00 PM, July 10, 2022 (rain or shine) at Root River Parkway Shelter/Picnic Area #2, Greendale, WI, surrounded by the beauty and peace of nature, where Jean loved to be.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jean’s name may be made to Running Rebels Community Association, WUWM public radio, Second Hand Purrs, or Environmental Defense Fund. Also consider giving the gift of life by noting on your driver’s license that you will be an organ donor.
For more information, see Eventbrite - Jean Zyla URL = https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jean-zylas-celebration-of-life-tickets-358279081377