Jeanette Stabenow

Jeanette Stabenow, of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, January 22.

Jeanette was born on December 7, 1932, in Chippewa Falls, to Nick and Norma (Kohls) Roder. She graduated from Chippewa Falls High School.

Jeanette was united in marriage to Harvey Stabenow on December 29, 1956. He passed away on December 26, 2001. On October 19, 2006, she was united in marriage to Melvin Weltzin. He passed away on July 13, 2012.

Her faith and membership at the Lutheran Church of St. Matthew was very important to her. She loved crocheting and generously donated many Afghans to their Prayer Shawl Ministry.

She was also very patriotic and was a life member, past treasurer, past secretary and current president of the VFW Post 305 Auxiliary, was a life member of American Legion Post 53 Auxiliary, serving in many capacities and had recently been named Member of the Year, and was a member of the Eau Claire Patriotic Council helping plan the Memorial Day parade and yearly Veterans Day programs. She proudly helped with the American Legion Bingo on Friday nights, and when not helping was a faithful attendee testing her luck at winning.

She was an avid sports fan of the Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers and Eau Claire Express (being a season ticket holder and looking forward to the upcoming season). She was known for her love of the color purple and wore it every day. There was never a crossword puzzle left undone and always time for a good cup of coffee.

She was employed throughout her lifetime as a bookkeeper/secretary at many local businesses, but retired from the Wisconsin unemployment office in 1990.

She as the best mom, grandma and great-grandma anyone could ask for and found great joy in family get-togethers and just being involved in their lives. She also looked forward to her monthly breakfast get-togethers with her cousins. She was a lady on the go who truly lived life to the fullest.

She will be dearly missed by her children, Brian Stabenow, Brenda (Dean) Kelly, and Bruce (Carla) Stabenow; grandchildren, Heather (Charles) Wagener, Nicholas (Stephanie) Kelly, Ashley (Dennis Rand) Stabenow, Krista (Kyle) Christianson, Eric Stabenow, Holly (Matt) Seeger and Jonathon (Kaila) Stabenow; step-grandchildren, Amelia (Curt) Baskin, Aaron (Abbie) Aldrich and Andrew (Jill) Aldrich; as well as 10 great grandchildren and 10 step great-grandchildren; sister in-laws, LaVonne (Roger) Zindler and Sue Roder; and four nephews and one niece.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Nick and Norma Roder; her husbands, Harvey and Melvin; her brother, Clifford Roder; her in-laws, Edwin and Elva Stabenow; and daughter in-law, Darlene Shermo Stabenow.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the Eau Claire Fire and Rescue and Eau Claire Police Department for their compassionate assistance.

Funeral services for Jeanette will take place at 11 am on Friday, January 31 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 1915 Hogeboom Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701, with Rev Jeff Kazmierski officiating. Burial in the Rest Haven Cemetery in the Town of Washington will take place immediately following the service.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, January 30 at Hulke Family Funeral Home from 4-6:45 p.m. There will be a VFW/American Legion Auxillary Prayer service that evening at 6:45 p.m. to conclude the evening's visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Jeanette's name to St. Matthew Lutheran Church. Friends and family may offer condolences online at hulkefamilyfh.com.

Hulke Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 3209 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701 is assisting the family with the arrangements.