Jean (Mehalovich) Moran

September 11, 1955 — October 13, 2025

Jean Moran

Service Details

Jean Marie (Mehalovich) Moran, 70, passed away at home with her family present after a heroic, decades-long battle with cancer on October 13, 2025.

She was born September 11, 1955 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa to her parents, Esther (Goebel) Mehalovich and Jack Mehalovich. She was the third oldest of eight children.

Growing up, Jean enjoyed adventures with her siblings, visiting her Aunt Pete’s farm, and going for rides in the family car. She spent a lot of time in the rocking chair and loved it so much so that she’d bribe her siblings with a nickel to let her have a turn. Jean was often found swinging, singing Johnny Angel, going to the pool, having outdoor tea parties, playing cards with her Grandma, reading Nancy Drew books, and planning ways to get more chewing gum. She also enjoyed her time in the Girl Scouts and Dowling High School’s performance of Fiddler on the Roof.

Jean and Mike were married on August 16, 1975 at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines. They enjoyed trying out a new restaurant once a week, learned how to snow ski in Minnesota and Virginia, and visited Nagshead and Sandbridge beaches.

In 1976, Jean’s fastpitch softball team, the Des Moines Lancers, won the City Recreation Championship tournament. She was voted MVP for her stellar pitching ability and proudly accepted the team trophy. She was hired as the first check-out clerk at the brand-new Dahls grocery store on Merle Hay where she set the record for most items scanned in an hour. Jean was quickly promoted to the courtesy counter.

Jean and Mike’s children, Scott Andrew and Erin Elaine, were born in 1983 and 1985 respectively. Jean transitioned to staying at home with the children for several years before rejoining the workforce with the Saydel Community School District. Throughout the next 29 years, Jean held positions of Cafeteria Worker, Teacher Associate, Special Education Associate, and Secretary at Cornell Elementary, and Business Office Admin Assistant/Human Resources at Saydel District Office. She retired in May of 2019.

Jean spent her life devoted to her family and community. Throughout her adult life, she could be found attending the various arts and sporting events of her children and grandchildren, running the Cornell Carnival, teaching others how to count change in concession stands, sewing dance costumes, chaperoning countless field trips, helping with fundraisers, and volunteering weekly in the YWRC childcare room. Jean was always intentional with her kindness and often helped others to feel like they belonged.

In addition to spending time with her people and creating memorable holidays, Jean enjoyed cross word puzzles, card games, making up her own songs, window shopping, swimming, being silly with her grandkids, enjoying nature, and catching up on her shows. She also completed a “horse whisperer” lesson and horseback riding in Montana in 2021.

Jean is survived by her husband of 50 years, Mike Moran; son, Scott Moran (Kia); and daughter, Erin Moran (Andy), grandchildren Lena Moran, Kael Moran, and Maeve Moran Birmingham, three sisters Janice Tucker, Debbie (Dale) Smith, and Mary Jo (Dana) Kever, four brothers Tom, Tim, Jerry, and John Mehalovich, brothers-in-law Mark, Marty (Barb), and Pat (Kim) Moran, sister-in-law Christine (Richard) Moran, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews – all of whom she adored and loved dearly.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents Esther Mehalovich and Jack Mehalovich, nephews Dillon Moran and Michael Mehalovich, and brother-in-law Dan Howard.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 25th from 3 - 5 p.m. at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens (121 NW 60th Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50313). During the last 30 minutes of the visitation, family and friends will be encouraged to share stories about Jean’s life. Memorial contributions can be made to John Stoddard Cancer Center in loving memory of Jean.

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