1915
Jessamine
2012
Jessamine Kallenbach
October 22, 1915 — September 21, 2012
Jessamine Shively Kallenbach (Jes), loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died Friday, September 21, 2012, at Frederick Memorial Hospital in Frederick, MD. She was 96.
Jes was born October 22, 1915, in Laconia, NH, second of four daughters of John L. Shively, First Congregational Church minister, and Jessie Robertson Shively, pianist and musician. In 1920, the family moved to Southport, CT, where she spent her childhood, attending the local grammar school, Pequot, and the Roger Ludlowe High School in neighboring Fairfield, CT. She spent many enjoyable summers hiking in the White Mountains, horseback riding (her father loved horses, and they owned a horse and a pony), and enjoying the beauty of New England. She grew up in an understandably musical household, played both piano and cello, and enjoyed playing chamber music with her mother and three sisters during their years in Southport.
In 1936, Jes received a B.A. in history from Mount Holyoke College in NH, and from 1936 to 1939 she taught English Literature and Natural Science, coached field hockey, and served as dormitory advisor at Brewster Free Academy in Wolfeboro, NH.
While attending a Teacher’s Conference in Cambridge, MA, in 1938, she met Joseph E. Kallenbach, an instructor in Political Science at the University of Michigan (U of M) in Ann Arbor, and in 1939, they married and she left Wolfeboro and New England to live the next 62 years in Ann Arbor.
They were blessed with three daughters, and over the years, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In addition to caring for her family as well as participating in many community activities, Jes enrolled in 1958 at the University of Michigan's School of Library Science, (now known as the School of Information Sciences), and received her MALS in 1962. From 1963 to 1983, she worked as a professional librarian at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), from which she received an MA in English Literature in 1968. She distinguished herself in the field of library science as she moved through the ranks from Instructor to full Professor with Emeritus standing at retirement in 1983. In 1972, she became the first working librarian at EMU to receive a sabbatical leave, initiated by working with her husband on a three-volume book series, Biographical Dictionary of American State Governors 1776-1976, published by Oceana Press.
Jes was very active in the EMU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, an academic honorary society, in which she held several offices. In May 1983, EMU presented her with a Distinguished Service citation for her work in higher education. She was also honored via the Mount Holyoke College Club of Ann Arbor Sesquicentennial award in February 1987, for her pursuit of excellence and for being of a generation of professional women who were making deep contributions to their professions, even as they raised their families.
Throughout her lifetime, Jes was absorbed in many different activities and hobbies. She was blessed with intelligence, a loving heart, motivation to accomplish much in her life, and was admired by many. Her husband and three daughters always came first in her life, followed closely by flower gardening, music, golf with Joe, volunteer work at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens at the U of M, work with the League of Women Voters, and other interests as well.
In 2001, Jes moved from Ann Arbor to Frederick, Maryland, to reside at the Homewood Retirement Center. While at Homewood, Jes founded a music appreciation group that continues today. She contributed as volunteer for various Homewood services, including library aide; and she enjoyed participating in the reading groups there. She loved sharing her love of literature and music with the many wonderful friends she made during her time at Homewood.
She is survived by her three daughters, Juliette O'Connell of Gaithersburg, MD; Jobi Kennedy of Sleepy Hollow, IL, and Jennifer Kallenbach of Portland, OR and three grand children: Kim Del Monico-Ziolkowski, SC; Christopher DelMonico, SC, and Kela Parker, OR.
Other surviving family members are her sister Janice Woodhull of Davidsonville, MD; her two great granddaughters, and nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Joseph E. Kallenbach, preceded her in death in 1991 in Ann Arbor, MI, as well as two of her three sisters and her parents.
We would like to thank the Hospice Team at Frederick Memorial Hospital for their outstanding support and care during the last days of our mother's life. Additionally, we are very grateful for the support and care given by the Homewood staff while our mother was in Assisted Living the past 11 months.
Jes was born October 22, 1915, in Laconia, NH, second of four daughters of John L. Shively, First Congregational Church minister, and Jessie Robertson Shively, pianist and musician. In 1920, the family moved to Southport, CT, where she spent her childhood, attending the local grammar school, Pequot, and the Roger Ludlowe High School in neighboring Fairfield, CT. She spent many enjoyable summers hiking in the White Mountains, horseback riding (her father loved horses, and they owned a horse and a pony), and enjoying the beauty of New England. She grew up in an understandably musical household, played both piano and cello, and enjoyed playing chamber music with her mother and three sisters during their years in Southport.
In 1936, Jes received a B.A. in history from Mount Holyoke College in NH, and from 1936 to 1939 she taught English Literature and Natural Science, coached field hockey, and served as dormitory advisor at Brewster Free Academy in Wolfeboro, NH.
While attending a Teacher’s Conference in Cambridge, MA, in 1938, she met Joseph E. Kallenbach, an instructor in Political Science at the University of Michigan (U of M) in Ann Arbor, and in 1939, they married and she left Wolfeboro and New England to live the next 62 years in Ann Arbor.
They were blessed with three daughters, and over the years, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In addition to caring for her family as well as participating in many community activities, Jes enrolled in 1958 at the University of Michigan's School of Library Science, (now known as the School of Information Sciences), and received her MALS in 1962. From 1963 to 1983, she worked as a professional librarian at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), from which she received an MA in English Literature in 1968. She distinguished herself in the field of library science as she moved through the ranks from Instructor to full Professor with Emeritus standing at retirement in 1983. In 1972, she became the first working librarian at EMU to receive a sabbatical leave, initiated by working with her husband on a three-volume book series, Biographical Dictionary of American State Governors 1776-1976, published by Oceana Press.
Jes was very active in the EMU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, an academic honorary society, in which she held several offices. In May 1983, EMU presented her with a Distinguished Service citation for her work in higher education. She was also honored via the Mount Holyoke College Club of Ann Arbor Sesquicentennial award in February 1987, for her pursuit of excellence and for being of a generation of professional women who were making deep contributions to their professions, even as they raised their families.
Throughout her lifetime, Jes was absorbed in many different activities and hobbies. She was blessed with intelligence, a loving heart, motivation to accomplish much in her life, and was admired by many. Her husband and three daughters always came first in her life, followed closely by flower gardening, music, golf with Joe, volunteer work at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens at the U of M, work with the League of Women Voters, and other interests as well.
In 2001, Jes moved from Ann Arbor to Frederick, Maryland, to reside at the Homewood Retirement Center. While at Homewood, Jes founded a music appreciation group that continues today. She contributed as volunteer for various Homewood services, including library aide; and she enjoyed participating in the reading groups there. She loved sharing her love of literature and music with the many wonderful friends she made during her time at Homewood.
She is survived by her three daughters, Juliette O'Connell of Gaithersburg, MD; Jobi Kennedy of Sleepy Hollow, IL, and Jennifer Kallenbach of Portland, OR and three grand children: Kim Del Monico-Ziolkowski, SC; Christopher DelMonico, SC, and Kela Parker, OR.
Other surviving family members are her sister Janice Woodhull of Davidsonville, MD; her two great granddaughters, and nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Joseph E. Kallenbach, preceded her in death in 1991 in Ann Arbor, MI, as well as two of her three sisters and her parents.
We would like to thank the Hospice Team at Frederick Memorial Hospital for their outstanding support and care during the last days of our mother's life. Additionally, we are very grateful for the support and care given by the Homewood staff while our mother was in Assisted Living the past 11 months.
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