Jean Eystad

VISITATION:

4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 15, at Pederson- Volker Funeral Chapel, 44 E. Columbia Street, Chippewa Falls, with a public prayer vigil beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will also be a visitation from 10-11 a.m. on Friday at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 810 Pearl St. Chippewa Falls.

FUNERAL MASS:

11 a.m. on Friday, December 16, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 810 Pearl St, Chippewa Falls.

Jean Marie Eystad, 85, of Chippewa Falls, died at her home on Monday, December 12, 2016 surrounded by her loved ones.

Jean was born to Alvin and Margaret (Haner) Rasmus on September 22, 1931 in Chippewa Falls. Jean graduated from Chippewa Falls High School with the class of 1949. She was united in marriage to Alfred Eystad at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Chippewa Falls on December 2, 1950.

For 20 years in the U.S. Navy, Jean and Al and their family were stationed at bases all around the coastal U.S. They returned to Chippewa Falls in 1970, and Jean worked for Freeport Silo and Northwestern Bank. She loved her community and was active as a volunteer docent for the Rutledge Mansion, and in both St. Charles and Notre Dame parishes. Jean loved to travel, especially as an RVer and camper. Her family and friends always called her a Gypsy. She was an avid reader and longtime member of a Lake Wissota Book Club. Her main passions in life, though, were her faith and her family.

Jean is survived by her husband of 66 years, Alfred; her daughters, Paula (Wayne) Peterson of Chippewa Falls, Melissa (Jim Mercier) Eystad of Hudson, WI, and Hjordi (Michael) Van Ausdal of River Falls, WI; sons Jeffrey Eystad of Hudson, WI, John (Joanne) Eystad of Chippewa Falls and James (Doris) Eystad of Plainfield, IN; grandchildren, Kristian (Julie) Peterson, Stephanie (David) Gallagher, Bethany (Justin) Robinson Clark, Ali (Doug) Tobin, Courtney (Michael) Peterson, Andrei Quiros Nunez and Hector Rodriquez, Jeffrey Eystad, Elise Eystad, Hannah Eystad, Nathan Eystad, Matthew Van Ausdal, Emily Van Ausdal; great-grandchildren, Blake, Konnor, Colin, Declan, Madi, Rafferty, Skyelar, Hunter, Bryn, Cole, Evan, Achamo, Grant, Chloe and Gavin. She is also survived by her sister, Faye Barton of Fountain Hills, AZ; along with many loved nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Paul Rasmus; and brother-in-law, Emerson Barton.

A visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 15, at Pederson- Volker Funeral Chapel, 44 E. Columbia Street, Chippewa Falls, with a public prayer vigil beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 16, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 810 Pearl St., Chippewa Falls, with a visitation one hour prior to the mass at church. Msgr. Mark Pierce will be officiating. Interment will be at a later date in the Scandinavian Cemetery, Town of Woodmohr, Chippewa County WI.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jean's name are preferred to the Children's Fund at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 117 Allen St, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 or to Irvine Park, 30 West Central Street, Chippewa Falls WI, 54729.