Jennifer Lynn Moore

Jennifer Lynn Moore, 46, of La Crescent, passed away on Sunday, September 24, 2017. She was born on December 13, 1970, in La Crosse, WI. As we prepare to say our final goodbyes to Jennifer during a Memorial Gathering this Thursday, September 28, 2017 from 3pm – 5:30pm at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home at 111 South Oak St., LaCrescent, MN, with the Recitation of the Rosary at 5:30pm, we try to honor the life of a truly shining spirit and humble person. After the Rosary, the family will lay Jennifer to rest at Crucifixion Cemetery just before her final sunset.

Although “7 of 8” (us Moore’s often lovingly referred ourselves by our “Pack Number” – No, not Packers…..as there were Viking, too!), and small in stature, Jennifer was bigger than life! Her adventurous spirit from her shooting skills shared with Greg Husman, her dear friend of many years, to her on-the-fly whitewater rafting trip (she arrived to help with the Colorado Wildfires (yeah, she drove a lot!) but was turned away so Jen thought “why not go whitewater rafting?!”), her tenacity to tackle any problem or issue (just how many cars did Jen fix or work on in her spare time or plumbing/carpentry issues that she solved?), or Jen’s cunning wit whether with humor or knowledge of the law as she battled as a Public Defender for Joplin County, MO, or her common-sense thinking and approaches to things like, “Hey, that bucket of stuff is too heavy to carry, just roll it to where it needs to be” (her cousin John will always remember this!)….but none of this was bigger than Jennifer’s heart. She always made it to family functions – even when she lived in Missouri, she’d play right along with her 21 nieces and nephews, 13 great-nieces and nephews, and 3 great-great nieces and nephews. Whether or not these kids were taller or shorter than Jen, she would always make sure that they knew two things: Aunt Jen loves you, but don’t think you can pull a fast-one on her just because she may be short! When back in LaCrescent this past June, Nicholas and Olivia both jokingly asked if Jen would put them in a head-lock again since we were staying with her during our visit…..I said, “Not if you behave!”. Jennifer’s great attitude toward life and people in general was most likely helped along by all of the wonderful times and guidance provided by her Uncle Mike and Aunt Carol who Jen thought of as a second Mom and Dad.

Jennifer attended Crucifixion Elementary School and La Crescent High School, graduating in 1989. She went on to receive her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, graduating Cum Laude from Winona State University (serving as a Campus Security Officer), and later received her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Missouri – Columbia and passed the bar exam in both Missouri and Minnesota. She worked for the Public Defender’s Office in Joplin County, Missouri for many years. Jennifer proudly hung a plaque in her office area: “Advice is Free…..Until you Hire a Lawyer!” But if you were lucky enough to have Jennifer as your lawyer, you knew that she would fight tooth and nail on your behalf…..and I recall her saying that she didn’t usually lose (or ever?)!

Jennifer is survived by her mother, Arlene (Frappier) Moore; her siblings and her “Outlaws”, Mary (Robert, deceased) Liebsch of La Crescent, Susan (Nels) Anderson, of La Crescent, John (Joan) Moore of Cannon Falls, Minn., Nancy (Michael) Nesky of Tempe, Ariz., Paul (Julie) Moore of Holmen, Daniel (Heather) Moore of West Bend, Wis., and Christopher (Kathy) Moore of Clear Lake, Iowa; 37 nieces and nephews; her aunts and uncles, Carol Moore of Hokah, Minn., Katy & Uncle Bob Langen of LaCrescent, Minn., Mary and Bob Verdick of French Island, Wisc., Karen and Craig Banasik of Stoddard, Wisc., and Dennis, Richard and James Frappier; and many, many cousins. Jennifer was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Robert Liebsch; Grandparents Don and Eleanor Frappier and Al and Deborah Moore, her Aunts Corrine (Frappier) Aanas and Colleen (Moore) Collins, and her uncles, Mike Moore, Al Moore, James Moore, Edward Frappier, and Robbie Frappier; cousin Eileen (Collins) Beach.

To look at Jen, you could see that she led a very difficult life of physical ailments with so much pain. But, to KNOW Jen, you knew that she never once saw these as a disability. Instead, they were just another obstacle to overcome. “Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace” – a line from Jennifer’s favorite prayer, the Serenity Prayer. She lived her life by this as she never let her disabilities come between her and her fight for justice as a lawyer in both Missouri and Minnesota, her and her love for the open road, her and her spontaneity for adventure, her and the friends and family for whom she was always there to help – even if doing so might cause her physical pain later in the day. She was humble. She was caring and giving. She was a true friend. She was determined. She was courageous. She was funny! Her life was surely difficult over the past few years, but Jennifer’s fighting spirit was seen every day - even until her last day on earth.

Rest in Peace, Dear Sister! We love you and you will be missed each and every day, but God must have needed a great lawyer! She’s back in your care, Lord…..and Uncle Mike’s of course! We will surely miss you, Jen, especially when there is an empty chair at the kitchen table while playing Risk over the holidays!

A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held from 3:00 until 5:30 p.m., Thursday, September 28 ^th , at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 111 So. Oak St., La Crescent. A rosary will be recited at 5:30 p.m. and burial and committal rites will follow in Crucifixion Cemetery. (Yes, Service info in there twice in case speed-readers miss it at the top or the bottom! – channeling my inner-Jen!