NOTE: The headstone says birth year 1908; however, original Michigan death certificate indicates 1909. It's been passed down through the family that he fudged documents to work at an earlier age to help his family, as his father died 1915, when Lawrence was only 6, and left 13 (or 17, we don't know the fate of four) children behind.

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Lawrence John Jean is the son of Sovereign (Severin) Jean and Marie Alida Lydia "Libbie" LaChance, the 16th child of 19 total children born to Sovereign via three wives. Libbie was Sovereign's 4th and last wife, and bore him the last 13 children, Lawrence #10 of those 13.

Lawrence is brother to Severin Joseph Jean, with whom he worked and co-owned various restaurants and lounges in the Lansing/East Lansing area in the 1940s/1950s. Lawrence and Severin married the Warner sisters, Fern and Adah respectively, daughters of Warren Carl Warner of Aurelius, Ingham, MI USA.

Lawrence married Fern Irene Warner on 31 Jan 1931 in Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church, Lansing, Ingham, MI. Their children: Sue Ann (b. 1939); Sheila Joyce Jean (08 Aug 1940-15 Dec 2010); Sondra (b. 1943), and Diane (b. 1949).

After years of owning Jean's Hamburger Shoppe, Jean's Restaurant, and Jean's Cocktail Lounge in East Lansing, serving as an officer with the Michigan Tabletop Association, Lawrence died unexpectedly of heart failure in November 1953, leaving Fern a widow with 4 young daughters, but he is remembered with much fondness to all who knew him.

TIMELINE:

1909 06 Apr – Birth, Linwood, Bangor, Bay, Michigan USA. SOURCE(s): 1) Original 1909 MI Birth Certificate 2) 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 US Census records. He is believed to have changed his birth record as a teen to work, hence the 1908 birth on his headstone.

1910 15 Apr - Age: 1, Residence, Bangor Twp., Bay, MiI USA. SOURCE: 1930 US Census. Severeign 58 (b 1852 Fr Can); Libbie 37 (b 1873 Fr Can); Arthur 11 (b 1899); Winifred 17 (b. 1893); Frank 15 (b. 1895); Severeign 13 (b 1897); Florence 9 (b 1901); Louis G 8 (b 1902); Anthony 6 (b 1904); Amelia (b 1908); Lawrence 1 (b. 1909)

1915 26 Oct – Age: 6, Lawrence's father, Sovereign Jean, dies, Kawkawlin Twp., Bangor, Bay, MI USA.

1920 01 Jan - Age: 10, Residence, Lansing Ward 3, Ingham, MI USA. SOURCE: 1920 US Census. Libby Jean 47, widow (b 1873, Canada); Frank A 25 (b 1895 MI); Gustave 18 (b 1902 MI); Lawrence 10 (b 1910 MI); Marrice 4 (b 1916 MI); Cecile 6 (b 1914 MI); Ira E Johnson 20, Joseph Blackman 20 {roomers}

1927 - Age: 18, Residence, 405 E. Saginaw, Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Occupation: Worker, Hoeflingers Bakery. SOURCE(s): Two US City Directories, Lawrence is a worker (along with brother Severin) at Hoeflingers Bakery. Hoeflinger's shows 2 locations: 323 N Washington, Lansing; 103 W Allegan, Lansing. Not sure which one.

1928 - Age: 19, Residence, 405 E Saginaw, Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Occupation
Worker, Hoeflingers Bakery, Lansing. SOURCE: US City Directories, Lawrence is a worker (along with brother Severin) at Hoeflingers Bakery. Hoeflinger's shows 2 locations: 323 N Washington, Lansing; 103 W Allegan, Lansing. Not sure which one.

1930 02 Apr - Age: 20, Residence, Sheridan St., Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. SOURCE: 1930 US Census. Severin J Jean 31; wife Ada L 26. Children: Madeline V 13; Katherine M 12; Ronald 8; Harold M 6. Brothers: Gustin L Jean 27; Lawerence Jean 21; Maurice L Jean 19. Mother: Libbie Jean 58

1931 31 Jan - Age: 21, Marriage to Fern Irene Warner, Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Church of the Resurrection, 1531 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing, Ingham, MI 48912

1932 - Age: 23, Residence, 1432 Robertson Ave., Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Occupation: Manager, Eagle Laundry, Lansing, MI. SOURCE: US City Directories, lists Laurence J Jean as Mgr, Eagle Laundry, Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Pg. 89 of collection shows 2 Eagle Laund loc., 1217 Center & 1408 S Washington, Lansing.

1933 - Age: 24, Residence, Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Occupation: Worker, Jean's Pastry Shop, Michigan Ave. Lansing, MI. SOURCE: U.S. City Directories, shows Laurence works at Jean's Pastry Shop {brother Severin's business}

1934 - Age: 25, Residence, 528 E. Mt. Hope, Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Occupation:
Mgr., Jean's Kewpee Hamburger Shoppe, 327 E. Grand River, East Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. SOURCE: U.S. City Directories (Beta); Kewpee's Hamburger Shop was owned by Lawrence's older brother Severin Jean and sister-in-law Adah (Warner) Jean. Lawrence shows as Manager of the Shoppe.

1938 - Age: 29, Residence, 635 Bailey Street, East Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Occupation: Proprietor, Jean's Hamburger Shoppe, 2033 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI USA. SOURCE: U.S. City Directories. Shows "Laurence J Jean" as Proprietor of Jean's Hamburger Shoppe, 2033 E Michigan Ave, Lansing.

1939 05 Jan – Age: 29, Birth of first daughter, Sue Ann, Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, Ingham, MI USA

1939 - Age: 30, Residence, 635 Bailey, Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Occupation: Proprietor, Jean's Hamburger Shoppe, 2033 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI USA. SOURCE: U.S. City Directories. Shows Laurence Jean, Proprietor, Jean's Hamburger Shoppe, 2033 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing.

1940 01 Apr - Age: 30, Residence, 635 Bailey Street, East Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. SOURCE: 1940 US Census. Lawrence J. Jean (32, b. MI); Fern I Jean (30, b. MI); Sue Ann (1, b. MI).

1940 – Age, 31, Residence, 635 Bailey Street, East Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. SOURCE: U.S. City Directories (Beta), shows Laurence J. Jean, proprietor of Jean's Hamburger Shoppe, 2025 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI USA

1941 - Age: 32, Residence, 635 Bailey, East Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Occupation, 2025 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Shows "Hamburger shop"; must be his Jean's Hamburger Shoppe.

1945 - Age: 36, Residence, 517 Haslett, Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Occupation: Proprietor with bro. Severin in Jean's Bar, 111 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI USA. SOURCE: US City Directory, shows Laurence is partner with brother Severin Jean in Jean's Bar, 111 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing, Ingham, MI USA.

1946 - Age: 37, Residence, 619 Butterfield Dr., East Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. SOURCE: U.S. City Directory. Shows Lawrence & Fern Jean as owners of Jean's Bar, living at 619 Butterfield Dr, East Lansing, MI USA. Occupation: Owner with bro. Severin, Jean's Bar, 111 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI. SOURCE: US City Directories. Shows Laurence J. Jean, Owner with bro. Severin, Jean's Bar, 111 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, Ingham, MI USA

1948 - Age: 39, Residence, 619 Butterfield, E. Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. Occupation: Proprietor, Jean's Cocktail Lounge, 111 E Michigan Ave., E. Lansing, MI USA. SOURCE: U.S. City Directories (Beta), Lawrence is co-owner of Jean's Cocktail Lounge with brother Severin and their wives (who are sisters, Fern Warner Jean, Adah Warner Jean).

1953 30 Nov - Age: 44, Death, Lansing, Ingham, Michigan, USA. SOURCE(s): 1) Obituary 2) www.findagrave.com Memorial #54040355 3) private death records & funeral notices

1953 04 Dec – Burial, Evergreen Cemetery, Lansing, Ingham, MI USA. SOURCE(s): 1) www.findagrave.com, Memorial #54040355; 2) personal family info. NOTE: His stone reads b. 1908 but birth certificate states b. 1909. Family tradition holds he needed to work at an early age so documents were changed.


{Biography/timeline courtesy granddaughter Debra Hart Blackgrave Tyre, updated 09.06.2012; 07.07.2014. Please retain original photo and bio credits if copied. Thank you.}