Jeanne Marie Woodard

Jeanne Marie Woodard peacefully went home to Jesus on May 16, 2022, while surrounded by her loving family, after 83 wonderful years.

Jeanne was born on July 9, 1938, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Edward and Rita Pierce. She grew up with her brother Arlen “Ozzie” and her sister Marilyn on French Island.

In 1956, Jeanne married Leonard LaDue and, of that union, her daughters Laurie and Vickie were born. Jeanne went on to own the Sugar Shack with her mother, where she met the love of her life, Vern Woodard. Jeanne and Vern married in the summer of 1969 and welcomed three daughters together: Theresa, Tina and Sheila.

In her spare time, Jeanne loved to cook, bake and watch all sports. Her favorite sport was football and, every Sunday, she cheered on her beloved Green Bay Packers. Jeanne had the pleasure of visiting Lambeau Field on two occasions.

Jeanne’s most precious gift in life was being a mother and a grandmother. It simply cannot be put into words how genuine and loving she was to not just her children and grandchildren, but to everyone she encountered. She was the closest thing to an angel on earth.

Jeanne is preceded in death by her father, Edward; her mother, Rita; sister Marilyn; brother Ozzie; baby daughter Tina; and husband Vern. She is survived by her daughters, Laurie (Brice) Brogan, Vickie (Jerry) Valentine, Theresa Putman (Tom Michael) and Sheila (Stewart) Penn; her daughter in spirit, Michelle (Chad) Reiman; her grandchildren, Jerry Junior (Randi) Valentine, Cassandra (Cody) Kelly, Sean Brogan, Shaylin (Andras) Varhelyi, Kylan Putman and Shelbi (Zachery) Wolff; her great-grandchildren, Jerry III, Megan, Sydney, Kaitlyn, Cyleigh and Elek; and many other members of extended family.

Grandma, you were an absolute blessing to everyone who was privileged enough to cross paths with you. There will forever be a hole in our hearts so wide and so deep that it will never be able to be fully filled. You will be missed beyond measure, but we are so happy that you are finally with Grandpa, and that the two of you can rest “easy now.”

The family would like to thank Moorberg Cottage for all the wonderful care they gave Mother the last seven years.

Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 23, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave. Her funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 537 Grand Ave. Entombment at Sunset Memorial Gardens and luncheon at Trinity Lutheran to follow.