Jean Ellen Moldenhauer

Jean Ellen Moldenhauer, 88 of La Crescent, MN passed away peacefully at La Crescent Heath Services on Saturday, July 22, 2017 surrounded by her loving family after a long battle with Parkinson's disease and dementia.

Jean was born on August 16, 1928 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was adopted a few days later by George and Evelyn (Hanson) Kaiser. She grew up in La Crosse, WI and graduated from Central High School in 1946. Jean met the love of her life and husband of 69 years, Gerhardt Moldenhauer, at the dentist’s office where she worked as a dental assistant. They were married on January 24, 1948, and together raised five children and farmed west of La Crescent until their retirement in 1990.

Jean was active in the Farm Bureau and was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church-South Ridge where she taught Sunday School for many years and was active in the Ladies Aid.  Jean loved to bake and enjoyed trying new recipes to share with friends. She was an avid reader, gardener, and angel collector. She enjoyed celebrating Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter by gathering the whole family to spend time together. A caring and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Jean especially loved her family, the farm, and traveling across the country with Gerhardt. Later in life Jean had the joy of getting to know her birth mother, Lillian, and her half-brothers and sisters and their families.

She is survived by her children, Ruth Lemke of Caledonia, Ed (Becky) Moldenhauer of La Crescent, Ann (Scott) Buege of Winona, Steve (Arlene) Moldenhauer of Houston, and Jon (Shannon) Moldenhauer of La Crescent; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Gerhardt, sisters Joan Krause, Margaret McCune, Marilyn McCune, and brothers James Lorimer and John Lorimer.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Thursday, July 27, at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4810 County Road 25, La Crescent. Pastor John Unnasch will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Family and friends may call from 5 - 7 pm, Wednesday, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of La Crescent, and from 10:00 am until the time of services Thursday morning at the church. Memorials may be directed to Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Gundersen's Hospice Department and La Crescent Heath Services for their compassionate care of our mother.

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