Jeanne Downey passed away December 17, 2023, at Rogers Health and Rehabilitation Center in Rogers, AR.  She was born on October 6, 1935, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and raised by her adoptive parents, Clarence and Viola (Schultz) Bowe.

She grew up in Oconomowoc, WI on Blaine Street with her grandmother, Helen Bowe, living next door. Her parents recognized that she loved music and bought her a piano. She played the piano for tap dancing lessons when she was in junior high school. She went on to play the piano for the high school choir, band, and at her high school graduation ceremony. Later, she played at weddings, funerals and at church services when needed.

Growing up she spent many summer days at her parent's cottage on Fish Lake near Hancock, WI. She became an avid fisherman and bow hunter. She graduated from Oconomowoc High School in 1953 and went on to pursue a music degree at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. It was in Milwaukee that she met Dean Belanger in 1954 and they married in 1955 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc. They lived in Milwaukee and Menominee Falls before settling in Sun Prairie, WI in 1964. That is where Dean and Jeanne raised her two sons, Greg, and Scott.  The family loved to go to their cottage on Spider Lake in Ashland County.

She loved to fish, but her favorite fish to catch were musky on a Crazy Crawler. Activities she enjoyed besides fishing and hunting were playing cards such as 500, sheepshead and bridge, being a cub scout den mother, archery league, quilting, being a member of Our Savior's Lutheran church choir and for a number of years leading that choir.

Dean and Jeanne retired to Bella Vista, AR in the mid-1990s, where she enjoyed travel and cruises, music, and her many church and social activities. After Dean passed away in 2003, Jeanne had a brief marriage to Don Nelson until his death in 2007. Jeanne married Edward Downey in 2009.

Later in life, she discovered she had a half-sister, Beverly Berry and half-brother, David Braley. While she only met David one time, she did create a relationship with Beverly and her husband, Robert.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and husbands, Dean Belanger and Don Nelson.

She is survived by her husband, Ed Downey; sons, Greg (Lynn) Belanger and Scott (Denise) Belanger; granddaughters, Jennifer (Travis) Kinder, Amanda (Ryan) Shohoney, and Kristin (Brad) Caudill; grandson, Bryan (Hayley) Belanger; great grandsons, Theodore Kinder, Tyler Caudill and Blake Caudill.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, 805 W Olrich Street, Rogers, AR 72756. The live streamed service can be found at: www.facebook.com/PeaceChurchAR.

Arrangements are being made by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences can be left at www.funeralmation.com