Date Of Birth: December 3, 1918
Date Of Death: August 16, 2011

Jeanne W Nahas
92, Indianapolis, IN, passed away August 16, 2011. Born Dec 3, 1918 in Woodcliff, NJ, Jeanne was the daughter of German immigrant Augusta (Meyer) Buckland and British Immigrant and US Navy Chief Petty Officer George P Buckland (Boxer Rebellion, Spanish American War). Jeanne lived a rich life including military service, years of work as a piano teacher, extended travels to Hawaii, and rearing a family of four.

Jeanne began playing piano at the age of 7 and continued to play throughout her life. She served as pianist in Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Dumont, NJ from ages 11-18. She studied pipe organ under Maestro Tuchman, a student of Franz Liszt, at Juilliard from 1939 –1943, while working as the piano accompanist at Ridgefield Park Dancing School, and organist at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Harlem and Temple Beth El in Sheepshead Bay, NY.

In March of 1943, Jeanne enlisted in military service with the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. She trained at Ft. Oglethorpe, Midland Radio School, and Camp Crowder. She was stationed Warrenton, VA as a High Speed Intercept Operator in the 2nd Signal Service Battalion where she intercepted Morse code messages from stations all over the world. She was honorably discharged in May of 1945 from the US Army WAC Detachment with a rank of TEC 5.

While in the service, she met and married US Army Sergeant Willis J Nahas, her Intercept Operator trainer. In 1954, they moved to Indianapolis, IN, to raise their four children. There, Jeanne worked as piano teacher for nearly 40 years and was the organist for St Peter’s Lutheran for 12 years. After her husband passed away in 1979, she spent several years living on the big island of Hawaii, where she played piano for St Jude Episcopal and Hawaiian Evangelical. She was hired by the State of Hawaii to teach piano to underprivileged children in Naalehu.

Jeanne is survived by her four children: Catherine Robertson (m Jack Robertson), Victoria Beasley (m Val Beasley), Bradley Nahas (m Edina Nahas), Kevin Nahas (m Debra Nahas); five grandchildren David Robertson (m Rose Robertson), Brian Robertson, Lelah Beasley Hedrick (m Nicholas Hedrick), Livia Beasley, Laura Nahas; 5 great-grandchildren, Faith and Jake Robertson; Tristan Robertson; Madeleine and Abigail Hedrick; 3 step grandchildren: David DeBruler, Michael DeBruler, Robert DeBruler; and 4 step great-grandchildren Hannah, Grace and Zachary DeBruler, and Page Collins.

She was preceded in death by her parents Augusta (Meyer) and George P Buckland, her husband Willis J Nahas, her sister Adeline E Wallace, and niece Jeanne M MacGowan.

Jeanne’s talents and passions included birding, gardening, cooking, baking, canning, diverse music appreciation, charity, and spending time with her family and friends. Jeanne was a member of American Legion Post 438 “All Women’s Post,� AMVET, and a charter member of Women in Military Service Association.

Visitation is scheduled for Sunday, Aug 28th, 1-3 PM at the Indiana State World War Memorial at 50 E Michigan St, memorial services to follow. In Lieu of flowers, guests are encouraged to donate to the American Legion Post 438 or St. Vincent Hospice. Guests are asked to wear red.