Jeanette Franke Hemphill, age 78, of Amana, died Sunday, March 27, 2011 at Colonial Manor of Amana. Funeral Services: 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, March 30, 2011, Middle Amana Community Church, Middle Amana, with Elder Mike Shoup officiating. Burial will be in the Amana Cemetery. Visitation: 4 to 7 P.M. Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at the Middle Amana Community Church, Middle Amana. Memorials may be contributed to the Amana Church Society, the Amana Library or the Amana Arts Guild. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo is in charge of arrangements.

Jeanette Franke Hemphill was born September 17, 1932 in Amana, Iowa, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Erzinger Franke. She received her diploma in the Amana High School, as valedictorian of her class in 1950. She earned her B.A. degree at the University of Denver in 1953 and her M.A. at the University of Denver in 1956. She met her husband William E. Hemphill at the University of Denver, and they were married in Denver, Colorado on August 11, 1956.

Before entering graduate school Jeanette worked in the Reference Department of the Denver Public Library, which prompted her to get her Master's degree in Library and Informational Services. After graduation she accepted a position with the University of Colorado Denver Campus where she served in various capacities from 1956 - 2001, first as head librarian of the CU Denver library and finally as the Associate Director of the Auraria Library.

In 1996 she received an award for exemplary service in libraries, and in 2003 she was awarded the University of Colorado medal for outstanding service to the University and the State of Colorado.

After her husband's death in 2000, Jeanette sold their house in Westminster, Colorado and in 2001, moved back to her ancestral home in Amana. She grew up and was confirmed at the Amana Church, which she rejoined at the move. Since her return to Iowa, she was active in a number of volunteer activities for the Amana Church, the Amana Arts Guild, the Heritage Agency on Aging, as a Hospice volunteer, and trained for the Stephen's Ministry.

Jeanette is survived by her son, Tristan, of Denver and her daughter, Joanna Vermace of Amana, three grandchildren: Elizabeth Langford, Elijah Binney, and Riva Vermace, and one 2-year old great-grandson Canan Olson. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Duane, and her husband Bill.