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QUANN, Jeanne Powers
QUANN, Jeanne Powers. (Dubuque County, IA-- ). In the article announcing the 2010 recipient of the FIRST CITIZEN AWARD, the Telegraph Herald quoted Quann's philosophy of life.
"No matter what your situation is, everybody needs a
little kindness -- even if it means saying hi to your
neighbor, taking time for them, or opening a door for
somebody or carrying somebody's packages. Our whole
community becomes nicer when we are nice to each other."
Quann's philosophy influenced her charitable efforts -- with Holy Family Catholic Schools, the DUBUQUE MUSEUM OF ART, fundraising for an injured Dubuque Marine and others won the Dubuque resident many admirers.
Power's civic involvement began at her church, ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER CATHOLIC CHURCH and assisting at her children's schools. She helped spearhead the inaugural Wahlert Golden Gala fundraising event and operated the Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque gift shop as a member of the Mercy Service Club. In 2010 she led fundraising efforts for injured Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Billmyer who was injured when he was hit by an improvised explosive device in the southern Afghan province of Helmand. Quann spent nine years operating the New Melleray Abbey gift shop whose proceeds help support the religious institution.
The daughter of Martha and Philip Powers, Quann grew up on the family's 150-acre farm just outside Dubuque's city limits. She was educated at ST. ANTHONY'S CHURCH, Immaculate Conception and WAHLERT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. Quann's parents helped teach her the importance of giving. She remembers them hosting special-needs children twice a year at the farm.
Her college career took her to Edgewood College in Madison, Wis., and back home at CLARKE COLLEGE. She taught a year at South Division High School in Milwaukee, and was living there in 1967 when her brother, James Conrad POWERS, was killed in Vietnam.
Jim Powers had introduced his sister Jeanne to a West Point classmate, Brendan Quann, after an Army-Air Force football game in Chicago. They were married on Oct. 28, 1967, five months after Jim's death. Brendan Quann obtained his law degree from the University of Iowa and served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps -- the legal arm of the service. Military obligations meant the Quanns moved frequently until settling in Dubuque in 1976. The Quanns have five grown children -- sons Philip and Jim, and daughters Courtney, Maureen and Mary Kathleen -- and two grandchildren.
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Source:
Hogstrom, Erik. "Kindness You Can Count On." Telegraph Herald, January 1, 2011
