Jean F Zabel

Jean F. Zabel November 18, 1940 – December 28, 2024 Janesville/formerly Brodhead, WI – Jean went peacefully in her sleep to be with the Lord on Saturday morning, surrounded by her loving children. Jean was a spunky, fun-loving wife, mother, grand-mother, and great-grandmother who enjoyed being involved in many activities throughout her life to enhance the lives of those she loved. In her late teens, she did modeling and posed for pictures with cars. When she was 17, she met the love her life, George, who at the time, was serving in the United States Air Force. They went on one date and George asked her to marry him. They were married four days after she turned 18. It was a match made in heaven. Jean loved to cook and bake. A person could rarely come to her home and not smell the aroma of homemade cinnamon rolls, cookies, pies, cakes or candies. She loved sharing her recipes and baked goods, especially at Christmas time, when she would give the whole family very large trays of these tasty treats. In the early 1970’s she assisted her husband, George, as his office assistant when he was the manager of Mound View Aviation in Platteville, Wi. Her lively personality made many people love coming to the airport and they made many friends. After moving back to Janesville, they were frequently seen at hanger dances at the Janesville airport. Jean also loved riding motorcycle with her husband. Many a day, you would see them out, just riding country roads for relaxation with her beloved Kermit the Frog attached to the back of the cycle. While raising her children, she was a “kid at heart” being involved with them in activities such as being a Girl Scout leader, and roller and ice skating. She taught her children to skate and was frequently at the Traxler Park lagoon, and Tanglefoots Roller Rink. Everyone at the rink knew her as “Ma.” Jean is survived by her daughters Tina (John “Butch”) Glass and Toni (Russell) Frye; a son, George M. Zabel; a sister Louise Dutton of Arizona; grandchildren: Michael (Cassandra) Felton, Mari (Nathan) Rogers, Crystal (Mark) Duran, James Shaw, Christopher Zabel, Amanda (Scott) Clason; great-grandchildren: Naomi, Brianna, Vanden, Brooklyn, Wynter, Uriah, Terra, Micah, Hunter, Dash, Meilania, Sterling and Skylyn. Special friends Terry and Marvel Thompson, and Gary and Mary Mason. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Gertrude and Donald Hovey, and Leonard Bacon, her husband George, her brothers Lee, John, and William, and a grandson Terry Lee Shaw. A visitation will take place at NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, 1105 E. 9th Ave., Brodhead on January 9th, 2025, from 11:00am-Noon with services to follow. Pastor Michael T. Powers will officiate. Burial will conclude at Greenwood Cemetery in Brodhead. Newcomer Funeral Home, 608-897-2484. Special thanks to God; Dr. Kristin Goelzer of Mercy Clinic East, Catherine Onsrud NP, and the nurses and staff of Mercy Manor; Mercy Hospice nurses and staff: Lisa, Amy, Aiden, Carol, Melisssa, Esther, Teah, Natasha and Chaplain Dennis Richards for their compassion and assistance given to Jean and the family in her last days of life.

Jean F Zabel

November 18, 1940 - December 28, 2024