Jean Elizabeth Hillesheim, age 76 of Morton, passed away September 20, 2025 at Cedar Heart Homes in Franklin. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Morgan, Visitation will be 9:00-11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial is in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Redwood Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Cedar Heart Homes, 551 E. 2^nd Ave., Franklin, MN 55333. 

Jean Elizabeth (Gewerth) Hillesheim, born March 22, 1949, in Belview, Minnesota, was the daughter of Joseph Francis and Helen Mae (Kohls) Gewerth. She was baptized at St. John’s Catholic Church in Morton and confirmed at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Morgan. Jean attended St. Michael’s Catholic School through 8th grade and graduated from Morgan Public High School in 1967. On April 20, 1968, she married Eugene E. Hillesheim at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. They shared 57 wonderful years of marriage. Jean worked briefly at 3M in New Ulm before spending 30 years at Control Data (later MPI, Zytec, and Artesyn) in Redwood Falls. After retiring in 2006, she became custodian at St. John’s Catholic Church in Morton, where she was a devoted member until its closure in 2019. She served in many roles including CCW officer, church board member, trustee, sacristan, and extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. She also was involved with the Golden Gophers 4-H, serving for 9 years. A gifted baker and seamstress, Jean generously mended clothes for others and enjoyed crafting with the Snowflakes sewing group. She enjoyed getting together with her various coffee groups as well. Jean and Gene traveled to all 50 states, and after retirement, Jean took several pilgrimage trips along with Fr. Mark Steffl and close church friends, including her dear roommate Kris Tetrick.

Jean is survived by her husband, Gene of Morton; daughters: Sandra (Keith) Anderson of Fridley, and Sarah (Jon) Slavik of Jordan; grandchildren: Natalie and Dominic Anderson, and April, Emma, and Alex Engstrom; brothers: Joseph Jr. (Maria) Gewerth of Virginia Beach, VA, Steve (Cindy) Gewerth of Springfield, David (Donna) Gewerth of Morton, George (Nancy) Gewerth of Hutchinson, Robert (Susan) Gewerth of Morgan, Scott Gewerth of Willmar; sister: Theresa (Mark) Nelson of Sunburg; sisters-in-law Cheryl Gewerth of Morton, Arlene (Lynn) Bushard of Garfield, Theresa Hohenstein of New Ulm, LaVonne (LeRoy) Mathiowetz of Wabasso, Janet Jacobs of New Ulm, and Ruthie Hillesheim of Mankato; brother-in-law David (Lauri) Hillesheim of Wabasso; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Richard Gewerth, brothers-in-law: Gerald Hillesheim, Gary Jacobs, and Darwin Hohenstein, and nephews: Adam Muller, Shawn Gewerth, and Emanuel Gewerth.