Jean grew up in Reinbeck, IA where she graduated high school from in 1973. After high school Jean married Donald Wayne Janssen on January 6, 1974, in Reinbeck, IA. Jean and Don lived in Grundy Center where they started their family. In 1979 they had their son Matthew Dean and in 1984 they had their daughter Sara Dana. In 1996 Don passed away due to heart complications.

Jean then met the second love of her life and moved to Illinois and got married to Bruce Gale Combs on December 22, 2000, in Maples Mills, IL. Jean was blessed with Bruce's three children, BJ, Sarah, and Hayden.

Throughout life Jean enjoyed volunteering and helping with Sunday School, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, she also enjoyed arts and crafts, graphic designing. Later in life, she really enjoyed watching and photographing birds and local wildlife, genealogy, and most of all spending time with her family and talking to her grandchildren.

Jean was proceeded in death by her parents Melvin and Mary Jans, her late husband Donald Janssen, her in-laws Claus and Hilda Janssen, her in-laws Wayne and Leone Combs.

Jean is survived by her husband Bruce Combs of Banner, IL. Her five children, son Matthew (Heather) Janssen of Columbus Junction, IA, daughter Sara (Nate) Davis of East Peoria, IL, stepson BJ (Melyssa) Combs of Canton, IL, stepdaughter Sarah Combs (Adam) of Atkinson, IL, stepson Hayden (Anna) Combs of Geneseo, IL. Her four siblings, sister Meridean (Bud) Schmidt of Cottage Grove, MN, sister Marilyn Jans of Chisago City, MN, brother Mike (Lora) Jans of Clear Lake, IA, brother Kenneth (Michelle) Jans of Maxwell, IA. Her fifteen grandchildren, Hunter, Malachi, Alizza, Kailie, Brinlee, Morgan, Cooper, Cruz, Brayden, Kynlee, Grace, Cayden, Payton, Taylor, Joey and two great grandchildren Willow and Nitrous.