Jean Livingston Van Duzen of Paonia died Friday, May 18, 2012, at her home. She was 85.
A graveside funeral service will be held Wednesday, May 23, at 10:30 a.m. at Bethlehem Cemetery in Paonia.
Mrs. Van Duzen was born June 12, 1926, in Detroit, Mich., to Verne and Ellen Van Duzen. She and her family moved to Belding, Mich., in 1938 and she graduated from high school in 1943 as valedictorian. She attended Albion College in Albion, Mich., and graduated with a pre-med degree. She graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, the same university where her father and two uncles had received their doctoral training. She completed her residency in Denver.
She moved to Tuba City, Ariz., in 1953 to work in a hospital on a Navajo Indian reservation and earned the name "The Doctor Who Screams." She stayed there until her retirement in 1980.
In 1964 Mrs. Van Duzen purchased property in Paonia with plans to retire. She partnered with Glenn and Tony Austin to put an orchard on her property. She lived on the farm for 32 years, enjoying the mountain views, the orchard and her many pets.
She was dedicated to medicine, and specifically to prenatal care. She testified before congressional committees on three different occasions as the personal guest of Senator Ted Kennedy. Her testimony was instrumental in establishing the Women/Infant/Children (WIC) program in the United States.
Mrs. Van Duzen is survived by two brothers and their wives, Keith and Barbara Van Duzen of Beulah, Mich., and Duane and Loretta Van Duzen of Fremont, Mich.; three nieces; five nephews; and many unofficial "adopted" grandchildren from the Austin family.
She was preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Helen Van Duzen.
Memorial contributions may be made to the North Fork Ministerial Alliance Food Bank, P.O. Box 517, Paonia, CO 81428, or Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 24, Delta, CO 81416.
View the Internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at taylorfuneralservice.com.
Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory is handling the arrangements.
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