Obit: Reiche, Jean A. (1937 - 2014)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Borchardt, Emon, Hanke, Heppner, Reiche, Rowe, Walters, Winkert

----Source: The Record - Review (Abbotsford, WI) 2/12/2014

Reiche, Jean A. (Borchardt) (24 APR 1937 - 9 FEB 2014)

Jean A. Reiche, 76, a life-time resident of rural Edgar, died peacefully with her family at her side on Sunday, February 9, 2014, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

A celebration of Jean’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 15, 2014, at St. Stephen Ev. Lutheran Church, Edgar. Friends may call on Friday, February 14, 2014, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at St. Stephen Ev. Lutheran Church. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Stephens Project Fund, St. Stephen Ev. Lutheran Church Edgar.

Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Edgar, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.petersonkraemer.com.

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----Source: The Peterson & Kraemer Funeral Home (Edgar, WI) Online obituary

Jean A. Reiche, 76, a life-time resident of rural Edgar, WI died peacefully with her family at her side on Sunday, February 9, 2014 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Jean was born on April 24, 1937 in the Town of Frankfurt, Marathon County to William and Charlotte (Heppner) Borchardt. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Edgar High School, class of 1955. On June 18, 1956 she married Ron Reiche at St. John Lutheran Church, Town of Wien.

They lived on the Reiche family farm, helping with the farm work. In 1969, they purchased the family dairy farm and then also raised ginseng. Additionally, Jean worked at Edgar High School and Edgar Packing Company as a secretary. She was a great homemaker and accordion teacher. Jean loved life and embraced the simple things. She loved to cook and bake; "Dutch Apple Pie" and "Hot Beef Sandwiches" were her specialties. We will try to imitate her applesauce, spaghetti sauce and salsa, but we will miss the love that went into her canning efforts. Recently, as her grandchildren attended college, she enjoyed making special "care packages" for them. She looked forward to her Friday night fish fries and enjoyed many trips to Branson, MO. For many years she sang in the St. Stephen's Church choir and was part of the church hand bell choir. We always appreciated our mother's excitement at celebrating with her family, be it her grandchildren's accomplishments, family birthday parties or the holidays; she had a way of making these times magical for all of us. Of all the things she enjoyed, it was her lifelong love affair with the accordion and polka music that defined her most. She was a highly accomplished musician who had the ability to play by ear. As a young girl, her father encouraged her to take accordion lessons. To get his money's worth out of her lessons, he encouraged her to provide accordion entertainment at the family farm for family and friends. At age 16, she joined the Roger Allen Band with Roger Kubitz and became part of the "Accordion Kids" with Joe Kremsreiter. As part of the Roger Allen Band, Jean played for countless weddings, anniversaries, and celebrations. In later years, she joined Bob Balz and the Melodiers Band, providing polka music for fairs, parades, anniversaries, and elder care facilities. One of our fondest memories of our wife and mother is the smile on her face as she played her accordion.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Ron; daughter Jayne (Kurtis) Rowe, Merrill; son Jeff (Jill) Reiche, Marathon; and son Gary (Sue) Reiche, Weston. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren: Matthew Rowe, Boulder, CO; Britta Rowe, Weston; William Reiche, Madison; Rebecca Reiche, Oshkosh; Andy Reiche, Eau Claire; Derek Reiche, Weston and step-grandson Andy Rowe, Waukesha. Jean is also survived by her sister Betty (Gary) Walters, Wausau; and a sister Carol Borchardt, Wausau; sisters-in-law Elaine (Ron) Hanke, Marathon, Pat Emon, Stratford and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, William and Charlotte (Heppner) Borchardt; mother and father-in-law Martin and Wanda (Winkert) Reiche, and brother Robert Borchardt.

A celebration of Jean's life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 15, 2014 at St. Stephen Ev. Lutheran Church, Edgar. Friends may call on Friday, February 14th, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at St. Stephen Ev. Lutheran Church. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Stephens Project Fund, St. Stephen Ev. Lutheran Church Edgar, WI. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Edgar, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.petersonkraemer.com.