Jeanette O Westphal

MADISON/MCFARLAND-Jeanette Westphal, age 78, passed away peacefully on Jan. 11, 2017, at Agrace HospiceCare after a long, hard-fought battle with COPD and lung cancer. While her symptoms eventually won, Jeanette was a tough German who gave her diseases one helluva fight. Jeanette was born to Carl and Josephine (Kalschuer) Uebersetzig on Aug. 30, 1938. She attended St. Bernard's Catholic School through 8th grade, graduated from Madison East High School and then proceeded on to the school of hard knocks. Jeanette married Virgil Westphal in 1961. She worked at Culligan Water as a bookkeeper during their early years of marriage, and then stayed home to raise their four children, care for their large garden, manage the family farm (which was quite a feat for a city girl), and started her career buying and managing rental properties. She and Virgil also started Virgil Westphal Auction Services and assisted or led more than 100 auctions together. Virgil was the auctioneer and Jeanette managed everything from putting the auctions together, marketing, clerking and bookkeeping. Mom loved a bargain! On Thursdays - Saturdays you would find her going to garage sales and negotiating something down from $.50 to a $.25, low-balling a property they wanted to buy (and usually succeeding), or attending auctions. In partnership with Virgil, over time on the farm, they raised everything from pigs, steers, rabbits, chickens, geese, goats, and sheep. Jeanette loved to play Cribbage, Poker and Euchre and she loved to WIN (which she did the majority of the time). She also bowled for years at Spartan Bowl and loved Bloody Marys at the Green Lantern on Sunday's. Jeanette belonged to the American Legion Edwards-Foye Post No. 534 Women's Auxiliary, was involved with McFarland Area Ducks Unlimited for 30 years, and participated in the Grass Roots Cribbage Club. Jeanette leaves behind her husband, Virgil; four children, Sandy (Steve) Kresz, Vicki (Mark) Kampmeier, Denise (Larry Mesch) Westphal and Scott (Mindy) Westphal; grandchildren, Chad (Emily) Helgeson, Jackie (Mike Marr) Helgeson, Kyle (Ashley) Kampmeier, Kane Kampmeier, Austin Leopold, Sydney Leopold, and Kaden, Parker and Carter Westphal; and three great-grandchildren, Christopher, Miranda and Michael Jr. When she passes through Heaven's gate, she will be reunited with her mother and father; sister and brother-in-law, Laura (Uebersetzig) and Richard Dvorak; and brothers, Harold and Jerome Uebersetzig. The Euchre tournament played by the reunited Uebersetzig's in Heaven will be heard down on earth. Funeral Services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. Entombment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home from 12 noon until the time of the service on Friday. A Celebration of Life will follow the burial at AMERICAN LEGION POST NO. 534, 4911 Burma Rd., McFarland. The family would like to thank Agrace HospiceCare for the wonderful care they provided to mom in her last days. Memorial gifts may be made in Jeanette's name to Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, 53711. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420