Jean A McCollum, 74, resident of West Lafayette, IN for the past 5 ½ years and former resident of Wolcott for 50 years, left this life and entered her Heavenly reward with her Savior on February 3, 2015. She was born March 22, 1940 to Joseph B and Dortha A Zarse of Chalmers. Jean grew up on a farm, graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 1958 at Chalmers High School, and married her high school sweetheart, Marvin McCollum, on May 17, 1959, who survives. They were blessed with 55 years of marriage. Jean was baptized and confirmed in the Reynolds St. James Lutheran Church and became a baptized member of the Wolcott Christian Church where she served as Liturgist, Deaconess, and Church Board Secretary for many years. Jean was a full-time homemaker and stay-at-home mother to three children: Jeffrey (Jane) McCollum, Cheryl (Doug) Podell, and Catherine (Gerard) Benner. She kept a clean and tidy home, took care of her children and husband, was caregiver to many elderly family members, participated in community activities, and held many offices in the Psi Iota Xi Sorority. Once the children were in the upper grades of school, Jean decided she wanted to work outside the home. She found a job where she could engage her talents of working with people and apply her organizational skills. She was employed by The Wolcott Enterprise and later as Secretary/Treasurer of Tri-County High School from the years of 1975-2003. Jean loved the staff, parents, and students who she so diligently served. This job allowed her to have the best of both worlds - being a full-time mother, as well as, using her God-given talents outside the home. Jean enjoyed searching for and making new recipes, listening to music, walking, shopping, admiring flowers, sunrises and sunsets, traveling, fishing and golfing. She gained Master Angler recognition and achieved a Hole-in-One in 1992. In 2007, Jean was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Although this disease robbed her of many of the things she loved to do in life, she still loved life, her Savior, Jesus, family and friends, her neighbors and community. Because of Jean's life and her fight with Alzheimer's, Joyful Journey, Adult Day Service in West Lafayette was formed so that others like her could continue to love life and stay close to their families. If anything could make her smile, it was her five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Grandchildren, Tyler (Racheal) Benner, Caleb (Caitlin) Benner, Amy McCollum, Jake (Kaitlyn) Podell, and Marty McCollum were privileged to know a kind-souled, gentle woman who wasn't afraid of putting a nightcrawler on the end of her line, removing the boat's biggest catch of the day from the hook or playing wiffle ball in the backyard. Grandma was sure to have fun. Her great-grandchildren, Ashland and Graeme Benner, Taelyn Cavness-Podell, and Parker Podell experienced a great-grandma with a sweet soft touch, gentle smile, and a warm lap. When all else would fail to put a smile on her face, it was her great-grandchildren who could do it best. Also surviving are a brother, Robert (Kathy) Zarse of Reynolds and brother-in-law, James (Donna) McCollum of West Lafayette. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph B and Dortha A Zarse and her father-in-law, Jesse L McCollum and mother-in-law, Ruth McCollum. Friends may call from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm (EST), Friday, February 6, 2015 at the Wolcott Christian Church in Wolcott. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 am (EST), Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the Wolcott Christian Church with the family officiating and Pastor Jeremy Church assisting. Interment will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery in Rensselaer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Wolcott Christian Church or Joyful Journey, Adult Day Service in West Lafayette. Share memories and online condolences at www.clapperfuneralservices.com