Obituary

Jean Anne Grabner, age 81 of Goodyear, Arizona died December 4, 2019, in Glendale. She was born September 21, 1938, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the oldest of two children born to John Robert and Esther Shifferd. As a young girl during WWII, Jean and her family moved frequently around the US before eventually settling in southern California. She and her brother Charles became very close throughout their lives and shared a home before her passing.

Jean had three children Wendelyn, Jeff, and Shawn during her first marriage. When her marriage ended, she took over sole custody of her children with Charles and his former wife Janie Shifferd’s help. Feisty and determined, she learned shorthand, secretarial skills, and even how to drive her V.W. Bug so that she could financially care for her family. Her spelling was always accurate and her penmanship impeccable. Her meticulous approach to her vocation led her to become an executive assistant for a variety of company presidents and attorneys during her career.

Jean met her husband, Clem Grabner when she worked for Control Data in Sunnyvale, California. Clem had four children from his previous marriage Mark, Gary, David, and Carol. Both families enjoyed summers together in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Clem’s jobs with both the U.S. Air Force and then the Social Security Administration kept the family relocating around the country including Ohio, Alabama, and finally Fairfax, Virginia. Jean gladly kept working to help support their family. After retirement, Clem and Jean moved to Carrollton, Texas and finally Goodyear, Arizona to be close to their families.

Jean enjoyed doing crossword puzzles. She loved to cook and would often watch cooking shows with the recipes open, noting the changes that she would make to please certain palates. She enjoyed shopping every day and making new recipes. She found joy in creating the food, but often gave away all but her portion to others. She was an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and a member of the Altar Guild.

Jean loved being with her family, especially her grandchildren. She enjoyed attending their baseball games, dance recitals, and cheer competitions. She always played Candy Land with them and so she was affectionately known as “Grandma Nutt.”

Jean is survived by her daughter, Wendelyn Le Erazo; sons, Jeffrey Allen and Shawn Robert Stark; brother, Charles H. Shifferd; stepdaughter, Carol Fitzgerald; stepsons, Mark Grabner, Dr. Gary Grabner; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Clem Grabner. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 4^th at 1:00 pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 400 S Old Litchfield Rd, Litchfield Park, Arizona 85340. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Cancer Society at cancerresearch.org.   Condolences for the family may be left below.