Jean Ellen Erickson

Jean Erickson, known to family and friends as Jeanne, died of an aneurysm on November 30th at UW Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, age 77. Her son, daughter and life partner were at her side.

Jean defined resilience. Her life was one of determination, strength and unwavering commitment to those she loved. She was tough and no-nonsense, traits balanced by a love of laughter and sarcasm. She was regarded as one of the hardest workers ever known by her peers. No task too difficult, she faced each challenge with fierce will and grit, equally so her later health issues.

Known for her physical strength, she earned the nickname ‘Mean Jean’ and once won a weightlifting competition by out-deadlifting all of the men in her class. In her 20s she operated a fitness salon from her apartment while working full-time jobs. Workaholic is not a misnomer and her commitment to it a lifelong trait. Jean was an athlete– a standout softball player for Halverson Oil in the 1970s and ‘80s. She mastered exceptional cursive handwriting and was a consummate baker, cook and gardener.

Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Jean and her sisters spent two years at St. Joseph’s Catholic Orphanage after their parents’ divorce. Her father married Marjorie Behm and their family lived and worked on a farm outside of Green Bay, eventually moving to a dairy farm near Cambridge. Jean graduated from Cambridge High School in 1965. She worked at Jones Dairy Farm in Fort Atkinson and for a time lived and worked in Madison. Jean married John Erickson in 1970 and together had three children– Eirik Haaken, Leif Christian and Sara Jean. They bought a rustic farmhouse on 43 acres in rural Deerfield surrounded by woods, open sky and nature. Freedom. Dogs and cats, two ponies and rabbits variously populated the homestead with deer in the fields and yard. A great Weeping Willow protected the house. A cherry tree, grape vines, raspberry bush and strawberry patch provided a bounty from which Jean produced homemade jams and jellies. Years of ATVing, biking and snowmobiling. Countless family gatherings. Children adventuring. They were tobacco farmers; planting, growing, topping, harvesting, curing and stripping their crop annually. A favorite pastime: years of raucous late-night card playing with Mildred Dalby, Betty Graffin and Jamie Mickelson, among others– smoking, coffee cake and black coffee providing round-the-clock sustenance. Divorced after 21 years of marriage, Jean found love again with Harry Weier, spending the next 30 years on his farm in Deerfield. Jean’s love of country living, dairy cattle and farming resumed full-on; she formed a strong bond with her beloved Mammoth donkey, Elizabeth, her spoiled black cat, Felix and her fiercely loyal, protective, well-fed Boxer, Chloe.

Jean’s careers spanned decades; she held management positions at Sta-Rite Industries (Deerfield), Promega (Fitchburg), Jacobson Bros. Deli (Sun Prairie) and Sentry Foods (Madison). In later years she worked a weekend gig at Kindred Hearts in Cottage Grove; for this, she spent out-of-pocket to create fresh-baked confections and pleasing holiday meals for residents. Strong leadership and work ethic earned her the respect of those with and for whom she worked. She led and taught by example– tireless, direct and deeply committed to the success of her team. She was a proponent of the underdog.

Jean’s giving and support of family, friends and strangers were innate, continuous and without egotism; as much a constant as her resilience. She lives on in her granddaughter Harper and in her daughter’s adventurous spirit. Her son keeps alive her habit of late night coffee.

She is intensely missed by Eirik and Sara.

Jean was preceded in death by her son, Leif; her ex-husband, John Erickson; her mother, Helen (Vandehei) Siroin; her father, Marlyn Kempf; her step-mother, Marjorie (Behm) Kempf.

She is survived by her partner, Harry Weier; her son, Eirik Erickson; her daughter, Sara (Travis) Fisher; her granddaughter, Harper Fisher.

Pam (Daryl) Nunes; brother-in-law: Jerry Stenjem; her siblings: Donna (Roger) Lueder, Patricia Hall, Mary Larsen, Molly Marty, Karen (Jeff) Coffey, Dennis (Jolene) Kempf, Kurtis (Donna) Kempf, Kristie Kempf; nieces and nephews: Julie (Ted) Willich, Lara Lueder, Cheryl Lueder, Roger (Monica) Lueder, Thad Torgerson, Leanne (Jamie) Torgerson Robinson, Lisa (Mark) Teggatz, Heidi (Eliott) Sarnow, Melissa (Jordan) Durocher, Amy Weigel, Jeffrey Coffey, Aaron Coffey, Dan (Ashley) Kempf, Harlan (Amber Karow) Kempf, Michael (April) Kempf; additionally, many grand-nieces and grand-nephews; aunts: Mary Behm, Maxine Paxson; cousins: Todd Paxson, Tammy Forsythe; family friends: Betty Graffin, Tami (Curtis) Graffin, Jamie Mickelson.

Thank you to Tami Graffin RN for advice and support over the past several years, it’s much appreciated by Jean’s children.

A celebration of life is planned for spring/summer of 2025.