Jacquelyn L. "Jackie" Glaesner

Jacquelyn "Jackie" L. Glaesner (nee Bjornaas), age 83, formerly of Sun City, AZ, passed away peacefully into the loving arms of her Savior on August 25, 2012 at The Kathy Hospice in West Bend, WI.
Jackie was born in Proctor, MN on May 28, 1929 to Olaf and Evelyn (nee Hanson) Bjornaas. She proudly marched as the head majorette for the Proctor High School band as well as being a majorette with the Cloquet American Legion Drum Corps. When she wasn't marching in parades, she was a semi-professional singer and dancer in the Duluth area and a model for a Duluth department store. Jackie also had her own dance studio in the late 1940s, putting on programs locally to showcase her students' talent as well as her own.
Following her move to Milwaukee, WI in 1950, Jackie married Patrick Tocco on October 21, 1951. During the 1950s, she worked for several years in the office at Sonny's El Dorado Steak House in Milwaukee. With the drum beat of a parade still in her blood, she joined the drill team of a Milwaukee VFW Drum Corps and competed in the National Drum Corps competition in Boston in 1955, with the group marching away with the championship. She continued to be involved in competitions and parades throughout the 1960s as an instructor for the Menomonee Falls based Holiday Twirlers.
Jackie married Gerald "Jerry" Glaesner on April 3, 1959 and they settled in Menomonee Falls. There, Jackie worked at Sears, Marty Stein's very first drug store, and then at Stolper Industries for many years. Jerry's job at Miller Brewing Co. eventually took them to Schaumburg, IL in 1973 and then to Manchester, NH in 1974 where they remained until Jerry's retirement in 1985. They initially retired to Palmdale, CA, but visited friends in Sun City, AZ and fell in love with the area, moving there in 1986. Jackie worked at Sunburst Fashions in Sun City for more than 20 years and retired only when forced due to failing health. Jackie remained in Sun City until 2007 when health issues necessitated her return to Wisconsin to be near family.
For the past four and a half years, Jackie resided at Emerald Ridge Assisted Living in Hartford, WI. She loved playing cards, entertaining, dancing, bowling, sports of any kind, and just being with friends and family, especially her "grandkids" and "great-grandkids." She was a huge fan of the shows at the Schauer Center and if there was a musical of some sort playing there you could bet she would be in attendance. Jackie was the life of every party and despite her failing health, her spirit of fun and zest for life was always present.
She is survived by daughter, Jody (Dean) Probst of Hartford, WI, son, Robert (Marla Jane) Glaesner of San Diego, CA, brothers Forrest (Mary Lou) Bjornaas of Surprise, AZ, Robert (Barbara) Bjornaas of Sun City West, AZ, stepdaughter Candice (David) Polgar of Cedar Grove, WI, step-grandchildren Joshua Probst (Tiffany Faccio) and Travis Probst (Cassie Houge), and step-great-grandchildren Riley, Isaak, and Trystan Probst. She is further survived by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Jerry.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude and appreciation to all of the staff at The Kathy Hospice for their compassionate care and unlimited kindness shown to Jackie the past four months.
Private services will be held for family in Hartford and a memorial service will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 11:00 AM at the Sun City Elks Lodge, 10760 W. Union Hills Drive, Sun City.
Shimon Funeral Home, 824 Union Street, Hartford, Wisconsin 53027 is assisting the family. Online condolences can be found at www.shimonfuneralhome.com (262-673-9500).
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