Leona “Lee” Adams Jahn

September 23, 1925 – February 5, 2015

Leona Rose was the eighth of 10 children born to Frank and Gertrude Adams. Life in depression-era Chicago was challenging and money was scarce. In 1935, the six youngest children went to live in a children’s home for several years. Leona made the best of those times, and had only fond memories. Leona graduated from McKinley High School in 1943. She was vice president of her class and voted ‘Most Popular’.

In her twenties, Leona shortened her name to ‘Lee.’ She worked as a switchboard operator, a receptionist and a bank teller. She also did some modeling.

In her early thirties, she attended a singles’ group at Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago. There she met and fell in love with an engineer named Charlie Jahn. They married in 1957 during a blizzard, then packed their belongings, bid the snow goodbye and headed west to California.

While living in Antioch, daughter Donna Lee was born in 1958, and son Gregory Taylor in 1959. The family moved to Southern California in 1961, eventually settling in the house in Pacific Palisades where Lee would live for over 51 years.

The 1960s and 1970s were joyful ones for the family, with camping, the annual trip to Death Valley, neighborhood fun, church services and events and travel. The highlight of those years was the birth of son Steven Charles in 1969.

The family was very active at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church where Lee served as an elder, deacon, Stephen’s Minister and in numerous other leadership roles. Lee and Charlie were active in several church organizations. The Spinnakers group became a life-long extended family.

While Charlie worked, Lee was raising children. Lee loved volunteering at her children’s schools, taking them to the library, scouts, church activities and music and swimming lessons. Steven’s preschool experience led Lee to take classes in child development and a decades-long career as a preschool teacher. “Mrs. Jahn” is dearly loved by generations of preschool students and their parents.

Lee participated in community activities, attended ball games with her sons and made annual trips to visit family in Chicago. A sports fan throughout her life, Lee especially enjoyed basketball and baseball, the Chicago Cubs team of Wrigley Field always closest to her heart! Lee and Charlie also enjoyed travel in Europe and Australia.

Between 1984 and 1992, Lee and Charlie welcomed six grandchildren. They loved playing with, reading to, babysitting for and traveling with their grandchildren. Each grandchild was special to her and she encouraged them as they pursued their various interests and goals.

Lee was predeceased by her husband Charlie. Lee is survived by her daughter Donna Lee Merz; sons Greg Jahn and Steve Jahn; son-in-law Kelly Merz; daughter-in-law Julie Jahn; grandsons Charles Merz and Christopher Jahn; granddaughters Christina, Sara and Amanda Merz and Brittany Jahn; sister Doris Solomone; brother-in-law Charles Smith; and generations of nieces and nephews. Lee will be dearly missed by all of her family and friends.