Jeanette Theresa (Quellhorst) Padgett

Jeanette Theresa (Quellhorst) Padgett, 91, passed away Monday, April 27, 2026, at her home in Lebanon, Indiana. She was born in Tipton, Indiana, on April 1, 1935, the youngest child of the late Raymond and Nellie (Tragesser) Quellhorst.

Jeanette was a 1953 graduate of Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Indiana. She was a member of the Prom Queen’s Court, business manager of the Cedars yearbook and President of the Sunbeam Society. She attended Ball State University.

On June 5, 1965, she was united in marriage to Gerald Padgett in Lebanon, Indiana. He preceded her in death on December 1, 2024.

Jeanette loved living in the country and thrived as a farmer’s wife, mother to her four children and homemaker. She was a meticulous bookkeeper of the farm finances. An excellent gardener, she produced a prolific harvest each fall with canned goods filling the basement shelves. She was also known for her outstanding jams and jellies, pies and numerous other baked goods. The kitchen always smelled amazing!

Jeanette poured an enormous amount of love and energy into the growth and well-being of her children. It would be impossible to count the number of hours she spent sewing special clothing for them, attending their many activities, volunteering for Girl Scouts, 4-H, L.H.S. Band Boosters and several other organizations.

At the age of 60, Jeanette returned to school and obtained her real estate license. She continued in that career for 20 years, earning multiple top salesperson awards at Century 21. She built a solid reputation as an outstanding agent. Young couples especially loved working with her, benefiting from her wisdom and honesty.

She was a faithful member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lebanon her entire life, acting as a Eucharistic Minister and serving funeral meals. In her later years, she found immense joy in spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Survivors include her sister, Madonna Campbell; children, Thomas G. Padgett, Penny Keller (Brent), Kathy Dunshee (Doyle), and Elizabeth Keith (Shawn); grandchildren, John Padgett (Bailey), Laura Beth Buland (Erik), Emily Padgett, Stella Padgett, William Padgett, Robert Lee, Sydney DeBaun (Logan), Olivia Hooker (Austin), Luke Dunshee, Samantha Dunshee, Matthew Keith (Lauren), Ryan Keith and Sarah Keith; great grandchildren, Andi, Walker, Harper and Riley Padgett, Henry, Oliver and Jack Buland, Owen and Mabel DeBaun and Grayson Keith as well as many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Jeanette was preceded in death by her siblings, Bernice Cleary, Raymond (Bud) Quellhorst, Delores Thoma, Martha Thrine, Mary Wiley and Jim Quellhorst and grandsons, Max Dunshee and Jacob Dunshee.

Visitation will be held Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. at Myers Mortuary, 1502 North Lebanon Street, Lebanon, Indiana. Funeral Mass is planned for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 319 East South Street, in Lebanon. Interment will follow services at St. Joseph Cemetery in Lebanon.

Memorials may be directed to the Five Loaves and Two Fishes Food Bank (St. Joseph’s Catholic Church) or The Caring Center.