Jeanne C. Olson

MARSHFIELD, Wis. — Jeanne C. Olson, 82, a lifelong Ironwood, Mich., resident, died peacefully Thursday, June 27, 2013, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, with her family by her side.

The former Jeanne Cobb was born March 7, 1931, in Hibbing, Minn., daughter of the late Sherman and Ethel (Wicklem) Cobb, and came to Ironwood as a child, where she attended Ironwood schools and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1948. She attended junior college in Ironwood and graduated from Northland College in Ashland with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education. She then substitute taught in the Ironwood School District for a short time.

Jeanne was employed as a bookkeeper for Sears-Roebuck & Co. and at the Red Owl Store in Ironwood, and as a cook/waitress at the Liberty Bell Chalet in Hurley and Ben’s Place in Ironwood for many years. She then was employed once again as a bookkeeper at Cloverland Motors in Ironwood, Cloon Motors in Wakefield, Mich., and C&M Oil Co. and WUPM-WHRY in Ironwood, retiring from the Community Action Agency in downtown Ironwood in 2003.

A well-rounded and active person, Jeanne was an avid bowler and bowled in Range area leagues for many years. She volunteered for Domestic Violence Escape and helped establish DOVE bingo. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting and playing cribbage. In her younger years, she was a chaperone for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, where she was known as “Ma Jeanne” to all the members. She also was an amateur ham radio operator and played women’s softball, and enjoyed archery, downhill skiing, skating and powder puff stock car racing. She will be deeply missed by her family and many friends.

She married Jack R. Olson in 1949. They later divorced.

Surviving are two sons, James (Helen), Sheboygan Falls, and Jerry (Liz), Hurley; three daughters, Jeanine (David) Winkowski, Ironwood, Judy (Greg) Battisti, Frederic, and Joellyn (Mike) Williams, Ironwood and Birdsboro, Pa .; 10 grandchildren, Michael (Carie) Olson, Tina (Kyle) Ellefson, Jesse (Trista) Olson, Jeffrey Blu Hill (Gwen Garrison), Dawn (K.C.) Giwa, Sunni Hill, Cara Battisti, Mario (Tiffany) Battisti, Justin Williams and Brian Williams (fiancee Rebecca Rothman); seven great-grandchildren, Tyler, Nathan, Jacobb, Christian, Carter, Aubrey and Dele; two stepgrandchildren, Brenda (James) Rector and Christopher Winkowski; two stepgreat-grandchildren, Jackson and Kaiti; numerous nieces and nephews; a sister- and brother-in-law, Joyce and Joe Manzanares, Mercer; and her very best friend and longtime companion, William “Chip” Tippett, Ironwood.

Besides her parents, Jeanne was predeceased by a brother, Frank Watts; sister, Eleanore Toijala; and niece, Jayne Slavin-Quayle.

Out of respect for her wishes, cremation has taken place.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, July 6, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 9:30 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Kurt Kovanen officiating.

Private committal and interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to DOVE Inc., P.O. Box 366, Ironwood MI 49938.

Jeanne’s obituary can be viewed online and condolences given to her family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.

The family wishes to extend a special heartfelt thank you to Ministry-St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield for the wonderful and compassionate care given to Jeanne. Also, special thanks to Dr. Maki and Dr. Hughes in the Aspirus Grand View Hospital Emergency Room for their professionalism.