Jeanne Hagen Nave McEldowney, 99, of Penney Farms, Florida, died Saturday, 2 May 2026. Born on Monday, 28 June 1926, in Webster, South Dakota, she is the daughter of the late Alfred Hagen and Mae (Karstad) Hagen.
Jeanne was trained as a nurse at Gustavus Adolphus College in St Peter, Minnesota. She and her first husband Bob Nave were missionaries in northern India for the United Methodist Church, where they started a technical school, now called the Nave Technical Institute. The school trained students in technical trades such as machine shop, welding and electricity. Through the Methodist Church, the couple also helped set up a factory in India processing soybeans as a food product and helped encourage Indians to raise them.
For the past 20 years Jeanne has been a resident of Penney Farms, a community of retired missionaries, founded by J.C. Penney in 1926. She has been a very active member of the community and contributed to many projects and committees.
Jeanne is survived by four children, Doug Nave, Dan Nave, Mary (Nave) Davis, and John Nave; six grandchildren, Carmen Nave, Lenore (Nave) Brooks, Adam Nave, Ashley Nave, Stephen Hamouda, and Krista Nave; and seven great grandchildren.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband of 14 years Rev James McEldowney; her former husband Bob Nave; her parents Alfred and Mae Hagen; three brothers, Lloyd Hagen, Bob Hagen, and Jack Hagen; four grandparents, Tom and Sigrid Hagen, Ole and Jennie Karstad; and two grandsons.
Please sign the family’s online guestbook at www.broadusraines.com.
Arrangements are under the care of Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring St., Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. (904) 284-4000.
