Jane Ann Kennedy

HURLEY, Wis. - Jane Ann Kennedy, 91, of Hurley, formerly of Ironwood Michigan, and Lake Gogebic, Michigan, passed away Monday, Nov. 22, 2021.

Born on Nov. 8, 1930, in Madison, Jane was the daughter of Gerald and Edith Pearce. She graduated from Madison East High School in 1948, and then continued her education at the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Madison, where she graduated as a registered nurse in 1951. 

On Dec. 27, 1951, she was joined in marriage with William "Bill" Kennedy. Together they moved to Ewen, Michigan, then L'Anse, Michigan, and finally Ironwood, where they raised their family and resided for 30 years.

She worked as a registered nurse at Grand View Hospital, Josephson's Nursing Home and as a visiting nurse for Iron County Home Nursing program in Hurley. 

Jane and Bill retired in 1985, and built a home on Lake Gogebic where they spent their retirement. After Bill's passing in 1998, Jane stayed at the lake until 2009, when she moved back to Ironwood, where she lived until her recent move to Sky View Nursing Center.

Jane was a hardworking, compassionate nurse, both in her career and her private life, helping to care for family, friends and neighbors. She was extremely generous, having supported many causes, locally and worldwide. She was always willing to lend a hand to help anyone in need. 

Jane was a woman with many talents, always eager to learn new things. She did numerous paintings; she liked woodworking, building furniture, even her own kitchen cabinets. She was a seamstress, made clothes for her kids and sport jackets and pants for her husband; she was into quilting, made many quilts over the years. She laid the block foundation for their home on Lake Gogebic and did beautiful stone work on the walls around multiple fireplaces. She even helped build her children's homes when they were being built. She loved to knit, crochet, cross stitch, needlepoint, and embroider. Her home was always filled with her beautiful creations, which are now passed on to her family. She loved to play board games, dominos, and cards, especially bridge. She loved the outdoors, camping at "the pond" and spending time at "the shack."

Jane loved to travel. As an only child, she treasured the time she spent growing up near her cousins. She had fond memories of time spent on her grandparents' farm in Barneveld. She also shared a very special bond with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a son, Tim.

She is survived by a daughter, Sue (Bill) Mattson; her daughter-in-law, Jackie Kennedy; grandchildren, Tim (Lydia) Mattson, Megan (Max) Pertile, Jess (Dylan) Esterl, and RaChell Morenweiser; and great-grandchildren, Luke, Janie and Hallie Pertile, Werner and Kennedy Mattson, and Jaxon and Jaicee Esterl.

Jane's family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Sky View Nursing Center for the compassionate, comforting care they provided near the end of her life.

The family is honoring Jane's life in a private funeral service at the Wakefield United Methodist Church in Wakefield, Michigan.

Graveside committal services will take place at the Sunset Acres Cemetery in Ironwood, in the spring.

Memorials are preferred to the Ironwood Carnegie Library, 235 E. Aurora Street, Ironwood, MI 49938, or the Wakefield United Methodist Church (designate for Camp Michigamme), 706 Putnam Street, Wakefield, MI 49968.

To view Jane's obituary online and express condolences, visit lakesidememorialchapel.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield.