Jeanne Lorraine Overlee, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Saturday July 26, 2025, in Parker, Colorado. She was 101 years old and resided at MorningStar RidgeGate in Lone Tree, Colorado. She was born December 3, 1923, to Glenn Tewksbury and Florence Hengesbach Tewksbury in Sycamore, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her husband Lt Col. USAF Retired, Clifford Leroy Overlee, Married January 11, 1944, brother Donald Tewksbury, and son Gary Wayne Overlee. Her memory lives on with her brother Allan Tewksbury, sons, Steve Overlee (Spouse Claire Overlee), Curt Overlee (Spouse Nancy Overlee), and her daughters, Stephanie Hansel (Spouse Robert Hansel), Suzanne Overlee (Partner Scott Lambert), 11 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. She also leaves other family members, nieces, nephews and cousins, and many friends who will deeply miss her.
Jeanne, a loving dedicated wife and mother, who followed her husband's military career through many moves back and forth across the country, children in tow. She lived alone with her 3 sons in Florida while he was stationed in Iceland and later spent many weeks alone with 5 children while he was Squadron Commander of a Strategic Missile in Colorado. Then she moved them all to his final post, overseas at the Torrejon Airforce Base, Madrid Spain, which was her favorite place she lived. Her duties as the Officers Club Commander’s wife involved many social events, luncheons and entertaining dignitaries at Cliff's side. She loved to drive to Madrid for shopping trips and lunches, and the days spent at the club pool to watch over her children.
The families return to the United States brought her & Cliff back to Aurora, Colorado, where they finished raising the last 3 children and lived to see many marriages and grandchildren born. She moved from the family home to Heritage Eagle Bend in 2008, to be closer to her 2 daughters, then to Morningstar in 2018 where she love to spend time on her patio with her cats, Pammy and Willa. To the end she enjoyed a couple of nightly vodkas on the rocks at the bar before dinner in the dining room. She loved living there and the wonderful people.
Her dedication, love and support of her family was unwavering and strong. Jeanne, possessed a gentle and serene spirit as a wife, aunt, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and friend. For her, family was everything and she cherished them all. The centerpiece of the family and traditions, holidays, birthday’s and grandchildren, she relished those times together and loved pouring over pictures from years past with visitors to her home. The true matriarch of her family, the “glue” that held us together over the years, her strong spirit and wisdom will forever guide us forward.
She lived an incredible life and will shine bright forever in the hearts of everyone she met. She remarked only days before her passing, “I’ve had a wonderful life” to the loved ones surrounding her.
Jeanne's Celebration of Life Services will be held on Friday September 19, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., with a reception following from 3:00p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Horan & McConaty 5303 E. County Line Road, Centennial, CO 80122. She will be interred with her loving husband, Clifford, witnessed by her children on Monday September 22, 2025 at Fort Logan National Cemetery 4400 W Kenyon Ave, Denver, CO 80236.
In lieu of flowers, she would appreciate if you donated in her name to the DAV, who was instrumental in aiding her upon Cliff’s passing, or the Dumb Friends League, where most of her beloved pets where adopted from.
DAV – Disabled American Veterans P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 Donate by Phone 877-647-VETS (8387)
Humane Colorado (formerly The Denver Dumb Friends League) 2080 S. Quebec St Denver, CO 80231-3204 US