Lenora K. Jadun

Lenora Kaye Jadun, age 57, of East Lansing, MI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 in the comfort of her home, surrounded by loved ones. Her death came after a long and courageous battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Born April 5th, 1957 in Midland, Michigan, to Imogen and Arnold Mack, she attended Midland High School and later graduated from Michigan State University with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Civil Engineering. She later obtained her Master’s degree in Public Administration from Western Michigan University. Lenora married Sonny Jadun on December 30th, 1983 in New York City, and they later had three sons, Cyrus, Adam, and Harris.

Lenora spent the majority of her career in public service, working in the Public Works Department for the cities of Southfield, Novi and Lansing. She was the Director of Public Works for the City of Novi and later the City of Lansing, becoming the first woman in the state of Michigan to be appointed as a Director of Public Works. Her professional ambition led her to open a civil engineering consulting firm, Engineering and Environmental Services Group, Inc.

Extremely determined and ambitious in her career goals, Lenora was a trailblazer for women in the Civil Engineering profession in Michigan. In a field dominated by men at the time, she was named Young Engineer of the Year in 1987 and Professional Engineer of the Year in Government in 1990 by the MSPE.

Lenora enjoyed baking, sewing, playing piano, and generously sharing these hobbies with others. She and Sonny also loved cooking for and entertaining friends and family for any and all occasions. Most of all, Lenora found great pride and joy in watching her sons play tennis, traveling across the country with them to cheer at their matches.

As an expression of sympathy contributions may be made to the East Lansing Athletic Boosters Club in honor of the “Tennis Memorial for Lenora Jadun.” Attention Membership Chair, P. O. Box 4452, East Lansing, MI 48826.

Lenora is survived by her loving husband, Sonny; sons Cyrus, Adam, and Harris; brothers, Randall (Pamela) Mack, Gale (Nancy) Mack; sister, Jerol (Douglas) Riesch; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.