Jean Parkins Grade, 91, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 13, 2026, surrounded by her daughters. She was born on July 7, 1934, in Charleston, West Virginia, to Shelby and Wilda (Fisher) Parkins.
Jean graduated from Charleston High School in 1952, where she served as co-editor of the school newspaper and president of the National Honor Society, among other clubs and activities.
She continued her education at Morris Harvey College, graduating cum laude in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. During college, Jean was a member of the debate team, Future Teachers of America, and Phi Kappa Kappa Sorority. She also served as secretary-treasurer of the student council and was elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.
After graduating, Jean taught in Charleston for three years, spending summers as a camp counselor in Eagle River, Wisconsin. She fell in love with the state and decided to pursue her graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. There she served as a teaching assistant in the School of Education and earned her master’s degree in education in 1960. She met Roger Grade in a statistics class at the university and the two married on July 8, 1961, choosing that date because it was the day between their birthdays. They were married for 50 years.
Jean and Roger settled in Sheboygan where she taught for two years before stepping back to raise their three daughters, though she continued her career teaching night classes at LTI. In 1979, Jean began teaching 5th grade at Howards Grove Public Schools, retiring in 1991.
In addition to her educational achievements, Jean was very involved in her community. She was active in her church, teaching Sunday School and heading multiple committees. In retirement she volunteered with Meals on Wheels, Friends of the Library, the Audubon Society, and Maywood Environmental Park. She was a teacher and docent at Heritage School, and was active in SCARTA and AAUW.
Jean loved traveling with her family and turned every trip into a learning experience. A month-long cross-country trip to the west coast is one of her daughters’ most treasured memories. Jean’s favorite destination, though, remained West Virginia, where she and her family traveled to twice a year. After retiring, she and Roger spent winters in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Some of Jean’s other hobbies included birding, gardening, and playing games. She hosted weekly game nights at her home and later organized evening games with friends at Lakehouse.
Of all the things she enjoyed and accomplished in her life, though, nothing meant more to Jean than her family. Being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother was her greatest joy.
Jean is survived by her daughters: Beth (Tim) Nicla of DePere, Amy (Jeff) Vos of Jenison, Michigan, and Sarah (Juan) Cruz of La Grange, Illinois; eleven grandchildren: Carrie (Eric) Schwanke, Ben (J’Mag Karbeah) Nicla, Maggie (Drew Knapp) Nicla, Charles Nicla, Duncan (Nicole) Vos, Bailey (Torrey Tolliver-Tames) Vos-Tolliver, Cooper, Weston and Tucker Vos, and Julian and Gabriel Cruz; and ten great-grandchildren: Grace, Ellis and Rhodes Schwanke; Nora Nicla; Harland, Gigi and Hendricks Vos; and Taytum, Everett and Sterling Tolliver.
Jean is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her twin brother, and two other siblings.
A celebration of life will take place at First Congregational Church, 310 Bluff Ave., on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., with Rev. Jay Parkins officiating. Visitation will precede the service from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any of the organizations listed above that were meaningful to Jean.
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