Jean Van Dixhorn

 

Jean Ann (Berg) Van Dixhorn, 80, of Sheboygan, went to live in Heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday, December 26, 2023. She believed in the promise that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”.

Jean was born on Tuesday, April 20, 1943, in Plymouth to Lawrence and Dorothy (Schulz) Berg. Jean was a 1961 graduate of Plymouth High School and continued her education by attending Sheboygan County Teacher College in Sheboygan Falls. After graduating in 1963, she began her first teaching job at Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah, 3rd and 4th grade.

She met her husband, David Jacob Van Dixhorn, at the teacher’s college and married him on August 21, 1964. In 1965, Jean completed her B.S. degree in elementary education from UW Oshkosh. They moved to Grand Rapids, MI where she taught 2nd grade and later kindergarten while attending Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music with her husband. Together they graduated in 1968 and moved to their first church as pastor and wife at Dayton Center Bible Church in Silverwood, MI. It also was the place their first son, David John was born.

After six years they moved to Mendota Bible Church for three years and then moved to Village Bible Church in Park Forest, IL. It was in Park Forest where they adopted twin girls, Jodie and Julie, and a son, Peter. She also found time to earn her M.A. from Govern State University.

In 1984, they moved to Sheboygan, WI to minister at Immanuel Bible Church and later the Evangelical Free Church and First Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Cedar Grove. Jean continued her teaching positions, first teaching 4 year olds at Head Start and then 15 years at Urban Middle School. She received another M.S. degree from Silver Lake College. She retired in 2004 but continued to help her husband in ministry and care for her 13 grandchildren. Jean also did many sub jobs for Sheboygan Area School District, including subbing up to two weeks before her passing.

Jean was a faithful wife and loving mother, who enjoyed every church where her husband pastored. She attended and led many bible studies and life groups, and was active in the AWANA youth program.    

Jean is survived by her husband of 59 years, Rev. David Van Dixhorn; daughters, Jodie (Kevin) Miles of Sheboygan and Julie Horsch of Sheboygan; sons, David (Jamie) Van Dixhorn of Kohler, Peter James Van Dixhorn of Sheboygan; grandchildren, David, Anna and Andrew Van Dixhorn, Paige Van Dixhorn (Jace Matelko) and Paislie Miles, Robbi, Julian, Jahleel, Jolie, Jerusalem and Jabez Horsch, Kaden Wolf, Nevaeh Snoeyenbos; sisters, Joan (Dan) Dessloch of Kohler, Janet (Glen) Senglaub of Sheboygan; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends whom were all so dear to her heart.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents.

A funeral service to celebrate Jean’s life will be held at Crossroads Community Church in Sheboygan on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 11:30 am with Pastor Jeff Jaeger officiating. Visitation will take place at church from 9:00 am until 11:15 am. Lunch to follow church service.  Entombment will take place at Greenlawn Memorial Park for family members only.

A livestream of the service can be viewed at 11:30 am on Tuesday by visiting www.wenig.live/jeanvd .

Memorial contributions can be made in her honor to one of the following ministries dear to her heart: Crossroads Community Church, Campus Life, Anchor of Hope, or the Evangelical Child & Family Agency.

For more information and online condolences, please visit www.wenigfh.com.