Jean Ellen Enke
October 13, 1959 — August 5, 2023
Jean Ellen (Young) Enke was born on October 13, 1959, to Darrell and Arleta Young, the
youngest of four daughters. She attended and graduated from Shelby-Tennant Community
School with the class of 1978. After high school she attended Grace University in Omaha, NE,
for a semester.
Jean was married to her junior high school sweetheart Phil Enke on August 18, 1978, at Silver
Creek Methodist Church in rural Hancock, IA. Her brother-in-law and Phil’s father both officiated
the ceremony.
Jean and Phil lived in Iowa City for a year while Phil attended the University of Iowa. In 1979,
they moved to rural Hancock where they settled on their farm and raised their six children.
Jean spent her whole life caring for others, and her family was the love of her life. In her many
roles as daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, she went above and beyond in service.
She supported her children and later her grandkids both near and far in all of their many
sporting, musical, and artistic activities. She looked forward to spending time with her family
every summer on vacation and visited 49 states. While she loved traveling to new places, she
wanted the family to spend every other year on the farm in Iowa because she, “wanted
everyone to know where home is.”
Jean was active in her community, serving as a member of TeamMates where she served as
treasurer and also as president and mentored students to inspire them to reach their full
potential. Jean also worked as a paraprofessional at AHST Community Schools for several
years and was a member of Junior Federated of Avoca. She loved making jewelry with her
parents and spent more than two decades working with their business, Y’s Design.
Her faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation of her life, and she was an active member at
Harvest Alliance Church where she served in many capacities. She taught Sunday School,
played piano, and delighted children with her purse full of candy.
Jean is lovingly remembered by her husband Phil Enke of nearly 45 years; children Darlene
(Peter) Kelsey of Evanston, IL; Kaleen Enke (James Poulos) of Atlanta, GA; Jolene (Titus)
Holzfaster of Shelby, IA; Shaleen (Jared) Boysen of Hancock, IA; Seth (Katie) Enke of Hancock,
IA; Angelene (Nathan) Bauer of Treynor, IA; grandchildren; Malcolm and Julian Kelsey;
Charlotte, Winnie, and Roland Poulos; Laramie and Loa Holzfaster; Jethro, Judah, and Jase
Boysen; Eleanor, Henry, and Oliver Enke; Sebastian Bauer; parents Darrell and Arleta (Nusser)
Young of Hancock, IA; siblings Deanna (Allen) Peterson of Omaha, NE; Marlene (Ron) Bystrom
of Council Bluffs, IA; Susan (Boyd) Brandt of Council Bluffs, IA; foster brother Kevin Price of
Aberdeen, SD; and many more family and friends
youngest of four daughters. She attended and graduated from Shelby-Tennant Community
School with the class of 1978. After high school she attended Grace University in Omaha, NE,
for a semester.
Jean was married to her junior high school sweetheart Phil Enke on August 18, 1978, at Silver
Creek Methodist Church in rural Hancock, IA. Her brother-in-law and Phil’s father both officiated
the ceremony.
Jean and Phil lived in Iowa City for a year while Phil attended the University of Iowa. In 1979,
they moved to rural Hancock where they settled on their farm and raised their six children.
Jean spent her whole life caring for others, and her family was the love of her life. In her many
roles as daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, she went above and beyond in service.
She supported her children and later her grandkids both near and far in all of their many
sporting, musical, and artistic activities. She looked forward to spending time with her family
every summer on vacation and visited 49 states. While she loved traveling to new places, she
wanted the family to spend every other year on the farm in Iowa because she, “wanted
everyone to know where home is.”
Jean was active in her community, serving as a member of TeamMates where she served as
treasurer and also as president and mentored students to inspire them to reach their full
potential. Jean also worked as a paraprofessional at AHST Community Schools for several
years and was a member of Junior Federated of Avoca. She loved making jewelry with her
parents and spent more than two decades working with their business, Y’s Design.
Her faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation of her life, and she was an active member at
Harvest Alliance Church where she served in many capacities. She taught Sunday School,
played piano, and delighted children with her purse full of candy.
Jean is lovingly remembered by her husband Phil Enke of nearly 45 years; children Darlene
(Peter) Kelsey of Evanston, IL; Kaleen Enke (James Poulos) of Atlanta, GA; Jolene (Titus)
Holzfaster of Shelby, IA; Shaleen (Jared) Boysen of Hancock, IA; Seth (Katie) Enke of Hancock,
IA; Angelene (Nathan) Bauer of Treynor, IA; grandchildren; Malcolm and Julian Kelsey;
Charlotte, Winnie, and Roland Poulos; Laramie and Loa Holzfaster; Jethro, Judah, and Jase
Boysen; Eleanor, Henry, and Oliver Enke; Sebastian Bauer; parents Darrell and Arleta (Nusser)
Young of Hancock, IA; siblings Deanna (Allen) Peterson of Omaha, NE; Marlene (Ron) Bystrom
of Council Bluffs, IA; Susan (Boyd) Brandt of Council Bluffs, IA; foster brother Kevin Price of
Aberdeen, SD; and many more family and friends
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