Racine, Wisconsin – Jeanne Elizabeth Olson, 73, passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday, May 26, 2017. She was born in Pierre, South Dakota on December 19, 1943, the daughter of the late Clarence and Beatrice (nee: Ostmoe) Olson. Her childhood years were spent in Fargo, North Dakota prior to moving to Canada in 1952 with her parents.
Jeannie graduated from Success Business College in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1964. She then began working for Great West Life Assurance Company, the first of many firms in the investment banking industry in Canada and the US by whom she was employed during her career. Jeannie moved to Spokane, Washington in 1967, where she enjoyed a successful career working the trading desk for Blythe, Merrill Lynch, and other major retail brokerages. She eventually retired from Morgan Stanley Smith-Barney in 2009. Jeannie moved to Racine 2015 to be near her family.
She became a favorite in each office where she worked, because of her kindness and personal attentiveness towards everyone she met. She was thoughtful, caring, conscientious and patient. Above all she had complete faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She radiated this love of Christ in all that she did.
In Spokane, she was an active member of Fourth Memorial Church, and served as a servant minister to the community for those home-bound and in need. She was an accomplished pianist and organist, having begun piano lessons at a very young age with the Schinn Conservatory of Music in Winnipeg. She earned many certificates with the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto. She loved to play for community theatre, as well as her church, and in her own home.
She is survived by her beloved sister, Dr. Kaye-Eileen Willard and Kaye-Eileen’s husband, Dr James Maki; her dear niece and nephew Bethany Claire (Matthew) Seeboth of Elm Grove, Wisconsin and John Paul (Antonia Chan) Willard of Raleigh, North Carolina; grand niece and nephew Harrison Matthew Seeboth and McKinley Claire Seeboth; brother-in-law Paul (Lorrie Dillon) Willard of Kona, Hawaii. She was also preceded in death by her brother Gary Carpenter Olson.
An intimate memorial service for her family and friends was held at Home Harbor on Monday, May 29, 2017. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, or to the All Saints Foundation in Racine have been suggested.
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