Jean Pansch

Jean Oliver Pansch, 82, of Graceville, MN, was called to her Heavenly Home at Grace Home on November 15, 2022.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity-Mt. Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church in Johnson, MN. Rev. Donald Main will officiate. Visitation will be held on Monday, November 21, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Mundwiler and Larson Funeral Home in Graceville. Visitation will continue at the church on Tuesday, one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Consolidated Cemetery, Graceville.The service will be livestreamed and recorded and viewable below this obituary.

Jean Oliver Pansch was born on July 31, 1940, to Dr. Irwin and Dorothea (Reinholt) Oliver in Graceville, MN. As a young child, Jean loved visiting Mrs. Lena Goodenbour and the neighborhood grandmas to play and snack on milk and cookies. Jean attended elementary school in Graceville and graduated high school in 1958 from St. Mary’s Academy in Faribault, MN. She continued her education in Missouri for one year then a half year at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

During the summers, Jean enjoyed swimming and boating on Lake Toqua and Big Stone Lake at the Oliver cabin. She met Donley Pansch as he drove past their dock in his boat and the rest is history. Jean and Donley were married on March 26, 1960, at the United Congregational Church in Graceville. Jean and Donley were blessed with four children: Clark, Laura, Julie, and Karl, and raised them on their farm south of Johnson, MN.

Jean was active at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. She participated in the Ladies Aide, Lutheran Woman’s Missionary Society, and as a Sunday School teacher. She also participated in the Hospital Auxiliary, Big Stone County Historical Society, Homemaker’s Club, Blood Mobile coordinator, and after moving into Graceville, she became a Hospice volunteer for Rice Hospice.

Jean’s hobbies included playing whist at neighborhood card parties, cooking and baking, embroidery, flower gardening, reading books and magazines, and enjoyed coffee with her friends. Sunday afternoon drives often included visiting with friends or relatives. She dearly loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and cherished their visits. One memory stands out – a very young Amanda asked Grandpa where all his hair went. Grandpa told her that Grandma pulled it all out, which Grandma vehemently denied. Jean also enjoyed cooking Sunday dinners at which Karl always snitched the maraschino cherries in the salad and the chicken heart.

Jean is survived by her children: Clark Pansch of Golden Valley, MN; Laura (Gregory) Athey of Clinton, MN; Julie (Leonard) Epple of Morton Grove, IL; and Karl Pansch of Graceville, MN; eight grandchildren: Amanda Athey (Paul Guderian), Nicole (Benjamin) Jones, Amber (Craig) Doschadis, Jennifer (Tedd) Curry, Karolina (Joel) Deuth, Ethan Epple, Mateja (Daniel) Kock, Renata (Keenan) Epple-Robinson; nine great-grandchildren: Zoey Jones, Zyair Jones, Mareya Doschadis, Marlee Doschadis, Meena Doschadis, Oliver Curry, Esther Deuth, Eliana Kock, and Lou Ann Kock, and; siblings: Gail (James) LaFave, Robert Oliver, and John Oliver; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Roger Pansch, Carolyn Pansch, David (Ruth) Pansch, Harlon (Carol) Pansch, Burton Pansch, and Birdie (Myron) Duin and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Donley; parents: Irwin and Dorothea Oliver; parents-in-law: Henry and Florence Pansch; great-grandson, Lamar Athey Vinson; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Marsha Oliver, JoAnne Oliver, Ronald Pansch, Barbara Pansch, Sharon Pansch, and Rita Pansch.