Jacqueline Annie Winders was born in Paris, France on March 23, 1925.  Her father Paul Clerc (1876-1930) and mother Annie (Taylor) Clerc (1898-1968) were stars of musical theater.  Jackeye spent her teenage years in Nazi-occupied Paris.  After passing her baccalaureate (B.A. equivalent) in 1942, she worked for the French Resistance as a secretary and a courrier.

The liberation of Paris in August of 1944 brought many American soldiers to Paris, including Sergeant Eugene Winders.  Gene and Jackeye fell in love and were married in the Église St.-Laurent in 1945.  When Gene was discharged back home to Dubuque, Jackeye joined 400 other war brides on an Atlantic crossing that brought her to the land which she adopted for the next 80 years.

Shortly after arriving in Dubuque, Jackeye began her teaching career with an after-school French beginners course at Senior High School.  By 1956, she was on the staff of Clarke College, now Clarke University, where she taught for 31 years.  At Clarke, she earned an MA degree and eventually became chairperson of the French department.  During the summer, she led study tours to France with her students.

Jackeye and Gene raised three delightful children—Richard (1948); Jeffrey (1955) and Dominique (1964) and had a busy social life entertaining both Clarke faculty and longtime Dubuque friends.  After Jackeye retiried in 1987, the couple not only kept a summer garden, but traveled throughout the US and Canada in a motor home and made trips to Europe.  They spent their winters along the Gulf Coast outside Corpus Christi, TX.  Jackeye also co-wrote a beginner’s French dictionary and translated letters by Bishop Loras.

Jackeye never lost her Parisian flare for fashion or her intellectual curiosity.  She was an avid reader of French history and classic literature.  After Gene passed in 2017, she remained in the family home, where she relished reading difficult books, watching the Tour de France on tv and having her hair done every Friday.

Jackeye’s life spanned a century, from the Jazz Age to the Cyber Age, and she followed current events with a critical eye until the very end.  She was ever thought-provoking and a beacon of knowledge and wisdom to all around her.

Surviving are sons Richard of Leavenworth, WA, Jeffrey (Penny) of Guilford, IL and daughter Dominique of Minneapolis, MN, two grandsons—Luke (Sara) Winders of Geneseo, IL and Ezekiel (Emily) Winders of Guilford; and three great grandchildren—Maxwell, Rowan and Elle.

Jackeye was a faithful parishioner of Resurrection Church since its establishment.  Services will be held there on July 14th with a visitation at 9:15 , mass at 10:30 and reception afterward. The Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 JFK Rd. is assisting the family.

The family especially thanks Dr. Honorio Caceres, who cared for her so well over the years, and expresses gratitude to Hospice of Dubuque who assisted in making her transition peaceful.