Jean Lindstrom

Born to Anton and Helen (Pahuski) Bilski, on March 6, 1939, she grew up in Norway, Mich., and graduated from Kingsford High School in 1957.

After graduating, Jeanne, as everyone called her, worked briefly at Cutler-Hammer in Milwaukee, and then moved back home to work in the office at Colonial Broach until she was married to Charles (Chuck) Lindstrom on May 14, 1960. Jeanne and Chuck had just celebrated their 60th anniversary this year.

Together, they shared life, children and work.  They spent their early years in Milwaukee, and then settled in Marinette, where Jeanne supported her husband as he started C & R Tool Corp., doing the office work for the business for many years.

They had four children, which had been Jeanne’s childhood hope… to have two girls and two boys… and she devoted her life to being the best wife and mother she could be.

She took great pride in having a clean house and making wonderful meals for her family every day, always trying new recipes from her many cookbooks.

In winter, she was outside with her kids, snowmobiling, ice skating, cross-country skiing… and in summer they would pick berries to make jam, weed the garden together and enjoy eating the things they grew.  Summer weekends, she was often found packing and unpacking for everyone as they headed to the family cottage on Carney Lake.

 A very private, and no-nonsense woman, she enjoyed the simple things in life; walks in the woods, watching the deer and birds, and reading.

Jeanne instilled in her children her great love for animals, with many beloved dogs and cats over the years, and caring for injured birds and orphaned fawns (she raised two orphaned fawns until they were old enough to live on their own).

 As an empty-nester, Jeanne loved to travel, and saw the world with her husband including taking cruises, and trips to Mexico, Italy, Greece, Sweden, Norway and all over the United States, including Hawaii.  She was even able to take a trip-of-a-lifetime to Poland with her sister Sandie. 

After all that traveling, she was happy to start avoiding the snow and cold winters by spending several winter seasons at their house in Florida.

She is survived by her husband, Charles Lindstrom and her children, Terri (Ross) Rhode of Green Bay, Wis., Dr. Paul (Amy) Lindstrom of Niagara, Wis., Dave Lindstrom of Marinette, Wis. and Patti (Andrew) Drescher of Riner, Va.  She enjoyed the special blessing of her grandchildren, Hattie (Matt) Stuessy, Emma JoEllen Lindstrom (Rob Duncan) and Charlie Drescher. In her final years, she was great-grandma to Charlotte, Donna and Maggie.

Additionally, she is survived by her dear sister, Sandra (Tom) DeBakker of Vulcan.

She will also be very sadly missed by her beloved dog, Bree.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Sam and Larry Bilski. 

The immediate family will celebrate her life with a private memorial.

Hansen-Onion-Martell Funeral Home of Marinette, Wis. is assisting the family.