Jeanne Ottilie Burger

MONONA-Jeanne Otillie Burger, age 70, passed away on Wed., Sept. 7, 2016. She was born on August 11, 1946 to Joseph L. and Bernice A. (Schaefer) Burger. Jeanne grew up in Athens and was the oldest of six children. After graduating from St. Anthony's Grade School, her next faith home was with the F S P A's attending St. Rose High School in La Crosse, St. Mary's Academy in Prairie du Chien and Viterbo College in La Crosse. After teaching two years in Cathedral Grade School in Superior, her life's path led her to return to lay life and complete her BS in Education at UW-Milwaukee, where she then taught first grade for two years at Immaculate Conception School in Eau Claire. She taught first grade at St. Francis Xavier School in Cross Plains for 13 years. She also worked as a postal clerk in Madison. She then found her faith home to be at Holy Wisdom Monastery in Middleton. During most of her life she struggled with depression which had been controlled with medication and therapy. To anyone facing this burden, she wanted to say, "Don't give up. There is help and hope with hard work and support". Since her retirement in 2006, she enjoyed delivering meals for Home Health United, driving seniors to medical appointments for RSVP, attending concerts and plays, kayaking, crocheting, reading and participating in book clubs, spending time with her family and many friends, all of whom have supported and cared for her during her illness. There are too many to name, you know who you are. She can't thank you enough. Jeanne is survived by her sister, Gayle (Wayne) Mauer; three brothers, Joseph (Terry), Alan (Sharon) and Grant (Mary) Burger; a brother-in-law, Dan Bobbe; 20 nieces and nephews; 19 great nieces and nephews with one more on the way; nine aunts and uncles, and many cousins; four god-children, Kristy Langhoff, Jill Bohman, Julie Smith and Ethan Dinauer. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Mavis Bobbe and grandparents, Werner and Louise (Vesely) Schaefer and Joseph and Otillie (Klein) Burger. A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held at HOLY WISDOM MONASTERY, 4200 County Highway M, Middleton at 11:30 AM on Wed. Sept. 14, 2016, with refreshments to follow. Visitation will be held at Holy Wisdom on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Another Memorial Service will be held at ST. ANTHONY'S SCHOOL HALL, Athens, at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, with refreshments to follow. Visitation will be held at St. Anthony's School Hall from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Athens, Wisc. The family wishes to thank Dr. Christina Hook, Dr. Ryan Porter and all her caretakers at Agrace HospiceCare for helping Jeanne prepare for the next stage of her life. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.