Bio: Rolstad, Jean (1934 -  2013)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Rolstad, Wessel, Predalic, Blaido

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 22 Oct 1964

Rolstad, Jean (20 APR 1934 - 10 MAY 2013)

It is with great sadness that we pass on the news that Jean Rolstad died last Friday after a courageous battle with cancer. Jean attended her last Twin Cities Slovenians membership meeting this February. At that meeting, Norm Setnicker announced that Jean had been chosen as the TCS/SUA member of the year. A beautiful article describing Jean and her accomplishments appeared in the Zarja magazine just before she died. A copy of that article is attached.

Below is a copy of her obituary. As Jean requested, the obituary is brief and there will be no memorial service. The Twin Cities Slovenians extends our sincere prayers and sympathies to Jean’s family and friends.
John Zakelj, President
Twin Cities Slovenians
Mary “Jean” Rolstad


“It has been a wonderful life, couldn't ask for more. If I asked for any more, it would just be greedy. I treasured every moment of it.” – Jean Rolstad

Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Lowell. She is survived by a daughter, Bridget (Tom) Blaido of St. Peter, MN and a son, Tracy Rolstad of Medical Lake, WA. Jean had six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved very much. In her own words . . . “She came, she saw, she went.”

JEAN ROLSTAD Branch 109 - Twin Cities (TC), Minnesota

Jean was born Mary Jean Wessel in Greenwood, Wisconsin, and now resides in
St. Peter, Minnesota. Jean's grandfather was John Kucler from Polhov Gradec,
Slovenia, and her grandmother was Ursula Predalic, born in Rakitna,
Slovenia. Jean and her deceased husband, Lowell, had two children - a son,
Tracy, and daughter, Bridget. She has six grandchildren and six
great-grandchildren.

As a member of the TC Slovenians, Jean was the corresponding secretary for
the past five years. She was adept at computer graphics for all our
invitations, and along withher daughter they designed and machined
embroidered Slovenian words/ sayings on aprons, towels, and wine sacks. This
became a fund-raiser for Branch 109. Even though she had to drive over an
hour for our membership and Board meetings, Jean rarely missed a meeting,
even in the dead of winter. A memorable milestone in celebrating her
Slovenian ethnicity was when she organized a "Kucler" reunion in 2003. Many
descendents of the three brothers, who came from Slovenia to the United
States, attended, and prior to the reunion Jean researched the family
history and genealogy. The book she put together will be an everlasting
keepsake for every member of the family.

Jean will say that the highlight of her life, besides her family and her
Slovenian ethnicity, was sending packages and newsy letters to 31 soldiers
in Iraq and Afghanistan - a gesture that was begun when her grandson was in
the Marines in Afghanistan in 2007. Writing these letters and keeping
contact with these soldiers gave her a great sense of patriotic satisfaction
and endeared her to soldiers who were fighting for our freedom.
Jean was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and is fighting the battle
courageously. She certainly has been an inspiration to all who love her.
"Hvala Lepa, Jean" - from all members of Branch 109.
May/June 2013

1940 Federal Census, Mead Town, Clark, Wisconsin, United States, Enumeration District Number: 10-27, family 37

Mary Jean Wessel, white single female
Relationship to Head of Household (Original):
Relationship to Head of Household (Standardized): Daughter
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Estimated Birth Year: 1934
Residence in 1935: Same House

Household Members
Head Albert Wessel M 34 Wisconsin
Wife Mary Wessel F 28 Illinois
Daughter Delores Wessel F 8 Wisconsin
Daughter Mary Jean Wessel F 6 yrs. Wisconsin