Obituary of Jean K. Simon

Jean Krajeck Simon was born May 20^th 1946, in Grand Forks, ND, to Roy and Nadine (née Madsen) Krajeck.  She died at her home in Denver on October 23^rd, 2025, at the age of 79, after an almost three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jean was known as a loving sister, helping to raise many of her younger siblings. She was the 4^th child of 12, spending most of her childhood growing up in West Fargo, ND.

She began her college education at the College of Saint Teresa in MN and transferred to the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where she graduated with a degree in Sociology.

Following college, and a need to get out of the ND winters, and with a free ride, she made her way to Denver, where she started working as a paralegal for the Colorado State Public Defenders’ Office.  It was here that she crossed paths with the handsome Public Defender Ted Simon.  In 1975, they were married, and in 1976, their first child, Randy, was born.  In 1979 their second child, Carrie, was born.  Jean then spent her years working full-time as a mom, a devoted partner, and as an avid volunteer for and member of the Assistance League of Denver for over 16 years.

Jean had a great love of travel, having toured most of the world with Ted and often with other family members and friends.  She also loved doing puzzles and family genealogy, researching both the Simon and Krajeck families.  She was the ancestry expert everyone relied on.  But her greatest loves were for her close friends and family as well as all the children helped by the Assistance League of Denver.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents Roy and Nadine Krajeck, sister Mary, and brothers Tom and David.  Jean is survived by her husband of 50 years, Ted Simon, children Randy Simon and Carrie (Mike Howard) Simon, Grandchildren Wilhelmina Howard, Elias Howard, and step-grandchild Drake Howard, a host of siblings: Katherine, Elizabeth, Steve, Chris, James, Ann, Geralynn, & Becky, and the amazing 18.5-year-old Mollie dog.

A celebration of Jean’s life will be held in the Spring of 2026 at a date and place to be determined.

Contributions in Jean’s memory can be made to the Assistance League of Denver.