Jeannine A. Wilkinson

Jeannine Adele Schoneweis was born 1/13/29 to August Schoneweis (a blacksmith) and Orpha Gladys Beck. She was born at home, 48 Lipan, Denver, CO. Jeannine was named for a song, Jeannine I dream of Lilac Time, that was her Mother's favorite song. Jeannine and her sister, Enid, were both supposed to be boys but surprised everyone and came out girls. Enid was to be Charlie and Jeannine was supposed to be Earl. Jeannine's middle name, Adele came from Frances Rhoten who was her mother's best friend. Jeannine graduated from Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, New Mexico in 1946 and later moved back to Denver.
Jeannine's father, August Schoneweis was born in Denver 10/10/1886 - the Bureau of Historic Archives cannot find his birth certificate. An article about the family in the Rocky Mountain News in 1937 referred to the Schoneweis family as "West Denver pioneers".
Jeannine had such great memories of her father and always said how much fun he was and how he enjoyed doing things with the kids. Jeannine remembered putting make-up on their Daddy and trying to curl his hair(he had very little). He was court baliff for Judge Calvert and at that time courts opened the 1st Mon after Labor Day and closed for the summer on Memorial Day, so their Daddy had the whole summer off. They had a big yard and he had a beautiful flower garden and raised chicken, pheasants and tried to raise rabbits. They were to be dinner. The one and only time they had rabbit, Jeannine and her sister, Enid, sat at the table and cried and refused to eat their bunny. Jeannine would never eat rabbit after that. August always loved to play with his children as well as all of the cousins. He always decorated the house and yard at Christmas, and had a big neighborhood fireworks display on the fourth of July.
Jeannine's father died the day before Thanksgiving in 1936 at the age of 50. He had walked a few blocks from his house to pick up the Thanksgiving turkey and was hit by a car. Jeannine's mother, Orpha, was born on a farm outside of Kirksville, Missouri on 6/16/1894. She died October of 1968 at the age of 74.
Jeannine never knew her grandparents as they died before she was born. Her grandfather was Christian Carl Phillip Schoneweis. The last name may have been spelled Schoenwies. When immigrants came through customs they were so concerned that they would not be accepted that they did not argue about the spelling of their name, etc. Her grandfather came to Denver from Germany sometime between 1875 and 1880. He may have come through either Ellis Island or Philadelphia. He obtained work at the Denver & Rio Grand Western railroad. His first wife died here in the states and his second wife was actually Jeannine's grandmother. Her grandparents, Johanna Lange Schoneweis and Christian Schoneweis, were married in March of 1885 in Denver. The house at 48 Lipan St. had been built by Christian and after Jeannine's mother and father were married they lived there with them. Christian, who died in 1918, and Johanna Schoneweis are buried at Fairmont cemetery.
Jeannine, had one older sister, Enid Russell, who died in 1989. Jeannine and Enid were extremely close and spent much time together as children and as adults as well. Both lived in the Denver area and always spent all holidays, special occasions and well as much other time together. Enid's two children, Mike and Lani, were very close to Jeannine especially after their mother's death. Jeannine and her family attended Wesley Methodist Church, pastored by Pastor Lawrence Coffman, when she was growing up. Aunt Jeannine was christened at Wesley Methodist church which was located at 5th & Galapago. Jeannine's mother was the Sunday school superintendent, was in the Ladies Aid Society and did church suppers. Jeannine bought the original organ from Wesley Methodist Church when they were going to get rid of it and now her nephew, Mike, has it.
When Jeannine was little she remembered her family talking about Lucille Newell when she was getting married and her husband to be was making $50.00 a week and everyone thought that was a fortune! Aunt Lura would send Jeannine over to Aubrey's grocery store on Kalamath Street to buy .25 cents worth of steak and it fed all 3 of them (Aunt Lura, Uncle Chris and Jeannine).
Jeannine received her Bachelor of Arts degree Real Estate Law from Pacific Southern University in 1960 and her MBA from the same university in 1973. She started working in the Real Estate field in 1959 and was a licensed Real Estate Broker and closing and Escrow Officer as well as real estate investor and rental property owner. Jeannine met Paul Wilkinson in a real estate class that they were both taking and they married in 1969. Paul had 4 grown children, Kelly, Jimmy, Rob and Dusty, when he married Jeannine. Jeannine embraced them all and they all had wonderful relationships with her.
When Paul and Jeannine bought their house on Downing St. in 1970 they paid $18,500. It sold in 2004 for over $800,000 (of course it had been totally gutted and rebuilt by the new owners and the location was right across the street from Washington Park - a very desirable location now). Jeannine said when they bought the house across from Washington Park was a questionable place to buy because there was the concern that it would be a place where the "hippies" hung out and would not be a desirable place to live. They had a difficult time getting a loan but because Aunt Jeannine worked for a mortgage company they were able to.
Jeannine and Paul both enjoyed traveling and since Paul was a photographer there are many memorable pictures of their travels as memories. Just some of the few places they traveled to included Many countries in Europe, New Guinea, Japan and the islands of the South Pacific, South America, Mexico, Central America, Russia, the South Pole, Antartica, China, Viet Nam and the Carribean. They were married for 30 years before Paul died of cancer 2/12/1999. Jeannine did not have children of her own but enjoyed her four step children as well as her nephew, Mike, and niece, Lani, and their children, Brian, Amy, Kelly and Andy.
Jeannine initially had breast cancer 15 years ago. She thought she had won the battle! Jeannine participated with her friends in the Walk for the Cure for several years and it was just recently that the cancer resurfaced in her body.
Jeannine met Harding Emery in 2000 through a mutual friend. Their love for ballroom dancing and having fun brought them together. Jeannine and Harding have enjoyed traveling together and Harding has been Jeannine's constant companion since 2001. Harding's two sons, Stuart and Sheldon, both adored Jeannine as she did them. During Jeannine's recent bout of cancer Harding and Sheldon have been wonderful caretakers of her.
Jeannine was an active volunteer at the Denver Zoo, as a docent a tour guide and took animals to Denver Public Schools to visit children's classrooms. Jeannine modeled clothing for the Colorado Historical Society, and had also volunteered at the Molly Brown House and the Governors Mansion at Christmas time. Jeannine also was involved in the Oasis Reader's Theatre, doing presentations for schools - grades K through 4. Jeannine loved tap dancing. As one of the "Southwest Tappers", she enjoyed entertaining in schools, senior centers and many other events. Their tap dancing group won many dancing competitions. Jeannine competed in the Ms. Senior Colorado pageant in 2003. Jeannine also enjoyed ballroom dancing and belly dancing – most recently being asked to model for the 2008-2009 Fall & Winter activity catalogue. Jeannine was also on the Board of Directors for her Home Owners Association.
Jeannine was loved by many and blessed many with her generosity. She loved animals and always had pets as well as donated time and money towards animal shelters and causes.