Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
JANESVILLE, Wis. - Jean M. Behrendt, 82, a longtime resident of Janesville, passed away Monday evening, Aug. 28, 2017, at her home.
She was born Oct. 21, 1934, in Ironwood, Mich. On March 9, 1957, she married Clifford M. Behrendt in Ironwood. He preceded her in death on March 31, 1996. Jean worked for many years as a telephone operator for Wisconsin Bell Telephone Co. until her retirement. She was a very active member of the Telephone Pioneers of Wisconsin.
Jean was a very active and devoted member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, and worked on their funeral dinner committee, Sunday School and their Ladies Aid. Jean truly loved the Lord, and all of His people.
She always enjoyed gardening, tending to both vegetables and flowers. Jean was also an animal lover. She was very skilled in crocheting, and each family member has something hand-made by her. Her greatest love and joy was her family. Jean enjoyed being the "matriarch," and loved having her family close to her.
She is survived by her four children, Craig (Tammy) Behrendt, of Edgerton, Diana (Jim) Teeter, of Cape Coral, Fla., Jean Sands, of Janesville, and Connie (Tom) Riggs, of LaGrange, Ga .; her brother, Warren Manchester, of Bossier City, La .; her 10 grandchildren, Michael, David, Sara, Eric, Johnathan, Ashley, Adam, Kayla, Aaron and Casey; her 12 beloved great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Gabriel, Ethan, Sam, Courtney, Payton, Shiloh, Skylar, Kadi, Gavin, Dain and Trinity; and nieces, nephews and many friends.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her mother, Doris Manchester; her son-in-law, Scott Sands; her sister-in-law, Thelma Manchester; her brother-in-law and his wife, Chuck and Helen Behrendt; a niece, Bonnie Brunell; and by an older brother, Bobby Manchester, who died in infancy.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Janesville, with Rev. Michael Schulz officiating. Entombment will follow in Milton Lawns Memorial Park Mausoleum. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the Whitcomb-Lynch Funeral Home and Cremation Services, or from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at the church.
Jean's family would like to extend their sincerest thanks and appreciation to the wonderful staff of Agrace Hospice, the friends and church family of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, and especially to Sister Jan Thurner for her prayers, love, and friendship through the years.
Whitcomb-Lynch Funeral Home & Cremation Services
21 S. Austin Rd., (608)752-2444
