1940-2026
Jean Bireline, age 85 of Adair, died on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at Exira Care Center in Exira. She was born Jean Annette Noland on March 16, 1940, at the Adair Hospital to Charles and Dora (Hall) Noland. She grew up on a farm south of Adair and attended schools in the Adair area and in 1957, was crowned the first ever FFA Sweetheart at the Adair High School. She would marry her high school sweetheart, James (Jim) Bireline on Nov. 23, 1957. Jean and Jim lived on the Bireline family farm in the “little house,” where they farmed in partnership with Jim’s parents for many years. In 1970 they moved to the “big house” where Jim and Jean raised their family and took over the farming operation. In addition to growing row crops, they fed and finished cattle for decades. Although Jean loved the cattle business, she complained that the feedlot was too close to the house and spent hours “swatting flies” to keep her home pristine as always. She and Jim remained on the family farm until a few years ago when they sold their home in the country to next-generation Birelines — Alex and Emma. The Bireline family farm will be a Heritage family farm in 2027, carrying on its proud family farming tradition.
Jean was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church until it closed, hosting Sunday noon family meals at her home after church for many years. She is currently a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Adair. Her passion was her family and the farm. She worked alongside Jim in the fields — disking, field-cultivating, chopping hay, driving tractors and grain carts, and combining. Son, Steve, claimed she was “one of the best grain cart operators around.” Later in life, she loved preparing meals and snacks to take to the field during spring planting and fall harvest. The Bireline farmers were amongst the few who “put on weight” during their busy season because Jean fed them so well.
Jean and Jim were avid Adair-Casey Bombers fans. They attended countless sporting events and other activities — enthusiastically cheering on their children and grandchildren. Jean was the family historian. She compiled every article and picture for every grandchild and lovingly created a scrapbook chronicling their school years, which she gifted to each of them at high school graduation.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband, James Bireline; parents, Charles and Dora Noland; parents-in-law, Art and Emma Bireline; brother, Rex Noland; sisters-in-law, Connie Noland and Marilyn Chesnut; brothers-in-law, Neil Lundy and Ray Chesnut; niece, Melodie Rubel; great-nephew, Aaron Rubel; and great-niece, Stacey Carney.
She is survived by her sister, Sandra Lundy; children, Steve Bireline and wife, Tammy, Linda Mackrill and husband, Kurk, and Lori Westergaard, all of Adair; grandchildren, Wes and Jenny Mackrill of Waukee, Jason Huss and Amanda Bireline of Casey, Tracy Mackrill, Marcus and Stef (Bireline) Fagan, Chris and Tessa Bireline, Andrew and Rebecca Mackrill, all of Adair; Brett and Taylor Westergaard of Casey, Alex and Emma Bireline of Adair, Brett and Brenna (Westergaard) Trecker of Roselle, and Connor Westergaard of Ankeny. She is also survived by great-grandchildren, Cydney Shriver and husband, Eric, of Harlan; Saige Huss and fiancée, Dustin Engel, of Avoca; Hauper and Sayer Bireline-Huss of Casey; Monroe, Nixon and Lettie Fagan, Reu and Beau Bireline, Banks and Benson Bireline, all of Adair, Blaire Trecker of Roselle and Hank Westergaard of Casey; great-great-grandchildren, Ezra and Enzo Shriver and Reini Engel; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Jean was about to welcome two more great-grandchildren into the Bireline fold.
Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Adair with burial following at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery north Adar. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, from 5 p.m. till 7 p.m. at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair with the family present.
Memorials can be made in her name and will be designated at a later date and can be left or mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.