June Elizabeth (Balding) Saleeby

WINTHROP – June Elizabeth (Balding) Saleeby passed away on March 24, 2025, at home in East Winthrop with her family and friends by her side.

June was born June 17, 1937, to John and Hannah (Robison) Balding in Stewardson, Ill. She had two half-brothers, one had passed away as a young child, the other was an adult with a family of his own by the time she joined the family. As an “only” child in rural farm country she developed a enthusiastic imagination and curiosity, making their farm animals her playmates.

She graduated from Stewardson-Strasburg High School in 1954 at the age of 16. Her passion for learning and early years in a one-room schoolhouse allowed her to complete more than one grade in a school year. In the fall of 1954, she began attending Eastern Illinois University where she studied biology. During the summers of her high school and college years she worked at Dairy Queen and spent two summers working at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Ill., a long way from her familiar rural farm country.

In the fall of 1958, she moved to Nashville, Ill. to start teaching high school biology. Her love for learning was infectious and she loved being a schoolteacher.

During the summer of 1959 her adventurous spirit led her to make a solo trip to the state of Maine to see the ocean and take a course in marine biology. During the summer, one of her classmates introduced her to a single friend of his. The handsome Mainer, Jan Saleeby, likewise had an infectious adventurous spirit, wonderful curiosity and passion for learning. The end of her summer here in Maine was nearing and she would have to return to Illinois for the next school year soon. They spent much of her remaining time here together, followed by a few months of long-distance courting. June and Jan were married on June 26, 1960, in Nashville, Ill.

Together they set out on their next adventure in Maine. June loved Maine, but always said she was a Midwest farm girl at heart.

After settling into life in Maine, June started teaching high school biology in Winthrop the fall of 1960. She taught periodically in Winthrop for several years as she raised her family. Late in the 1970s she returned to museum work at the Maine State Museum on the visitors’ services staff. She loved her work at the Museum, always learning new things and meeting new people.

June loved her family and friends deeply. June and Jan cherished time spent together as a family. They often organized activities such as skiing, hiking, camping and canoeing for their family and friends in the beautiful Maine outdoors. They continued to be part of those outdoor activities along with their grown family well into their senior years. June greatly enjoyed Jan’s engineering/design work on the Maine State Parks and volunteer work on Kingdom Hall’s and was often accompanied him on his various projects. Her children and granddaughter were her pride and joy, and she wanted to be part of everything they were doing. If she couldn’t be part of it, she wanted to hear all that was going on in their lives. She also dearly loved and cherished her many other “children and grandchildren.” June’s infectious enthusiasm, curiosity and love will be dearly missed by the many who cherished her.

The Saleeby farmhouse was a living museum full of interesting things and a gathering place for friends near and far. June loved to teach everyone about all the antiques and artifacts. June loved to cook and was often cooking up her signature biscuits and gravy from “back home” on her cherished Glenwood cook stove. She was very adventurous in trying new recipes and greatly enjoyed making delicious meals for her family and company. Her curiosity, love for learning and for cooking also incited her to learn how to make many delicious Lebanese dishes for Jan and the family.

June had a keen sense of spirituality and had held the Bible in high regard from childhood. Her favorite scripture was the 23rd Psalm. June and Jan studied the Bible together and she was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in January 1973. She associated with the Augusta and Monmouth/Winthrop congregations. She treasured the spiritual and moral guidance that came from the scriptures, along with the wonderful hope for the future. She also loved helping others to learn the scriptures and the hope found in them. She always loved opportunities for her and Jan to visit other congregations around Maine and the country, making new friends in many areas.

June always held close the resurrection hope spoken of in the scriptures. She longed for the time when she would welcome back her beloved Jan and her dearly missed parents, as well as many other loved ones to the paradise earth referred to in the scriptures.

June is survived by her son, Joel, her daughters Janell Burton and Jo Ellen Bryant, son-in-law, Dorian; and granddaughter, Victoria Burton and her husband Andy.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Jan; and parents John and Hannah (Robison) Balding; her brothers; and many Robison and Balding relatives

There will be a memorial service held on June 7, at 2 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 585 Route 202, North Monmouth, ME 04265-6233. It can also be attended through Zoom meeting ID 207 933 3739, passcode 207.

Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home where memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of their website at http://www.khrfuneralHomes.com.

In lieu of flowers,

June preferred those donations be made to:

the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses

P.O. Box 51

North Monmouth, ME 04265-6233 or:

Maine State Museum