Jeanne W. Lamsam

Jeanne's Livestream Service will begin at 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. There are two ways to join the Live Webcast: 1. Scroll down to the Events, under Livestream Service, click on "Watch Event" 2. Click on the Tribute Wall (above) and click on "Live Webcast" ROCHESTER, Minn. - Jeanne Winifred Lamsam, age 96, of Rochester, Minn., passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, at St. Mary's Hospital surrounded by her children and grandchildren via Zoom in this time of COVID-19. She was encompassed with love, stories, singing, and prayers in her final moments. Jeanne was born on March 6, 1925, in Brussels, Wis., the daughter of the late Dr. John Murphy and Josephine (LeGrave) Murphy. Although she lost her mother at the age of 10, she never lost her drive and spirit for life as shown by her graduating as the Salutatorian from Kewaunee High School in Kewaunee, Wis. She studied at the University of Wisconsin Madison where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. It is also where she met her husband, Limin Lamsam. The first time they met was helping a mutual friend move; Limin was driving, funnily enough, down the wrong side of the street, being from Thailand. Jeanne demanded to be let out and said she would never ride with him again. Of course, he eventually won her heart with his intellect and kindness. She married Limin on April 8, 1950. They lived in Bangkok, Thailand, for 25 years and had six children together. She was instrumental in founding the Ladies Mission Aid Group which raised funds to support the Redemptorist missions in Thailand. She was a woman of courage, deep faith, and prayer. She instilled in her children the value of education and service. After her husband’s passing, Jeanne moved back to Monona, Wis., and lived there for 20 years before moving to Rochester, Minn., in 1998 to live with her son, Jesse, and his family. Jeanne was an adventurer, in stories and in life. She never stopped chasing her dreams, although so much changed in her lifetime, living through the Great Depression, World War II, human space travel, Y2K, and the Age of the Internet with the interconnectivity of the world. Jeanne was passionate and was always learning and adapting. She was a devoted and affirming mother, a teacher, writer, telephone operator, and even an actress for a short time. She loved to write murder mysteries and is a published author of Thorn of the Snow Rose and a spiritual novel, Are You Ready? Aside from spending time with family, she could often be seen with an animal curled up in her lap or by her side. Jeanne would love to sing to brighten a room and would cry at patriotic songs. She loved the news because she said it made her feel connected to the world. Jeanne is survived by five of her six children, Jesse (Beth) Lamsam of Rochester, Minn., Ruth (Robert) Mullany, Oak Hill, Va., Esther (James) Burgess, Herndon, Va., Sister Mary Grace Lamsam CP, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Paul Lamsam of Coon Rapids, Minn.; a daughter-in-law, Noreen Lamsam, Whitewater, Wis.; 10 grandchildren, Mariessa (Karl) Lauret, Herndon, Va., Stephanie (Jason) Ohms, Waukesha, Wis., Amelia (Weston) Pickhinke, Davenport, Iowa, Brandon Burgess, Herndon, Va., Christopher (Jodi) Lamsam, Stoughton, Wis., Joseph Lamsam, Rochester, Minn., Isabelle Burgess, Tustin, Calif., Michelle Mullany, Jersey City, N.J., Jacey Lamsam and Alex Lamsam of White Bear Lake, Minn.; and one great-grandson, Kai Ohms, Waukesha, Wis. She was preceded in death by her father in 1924; her mother in 1936; her husband, Limin in 1977; her sister, Marion Baudhuin in 1965; her sister, Marjorie Verthein in 2000; her brother, Aaron Murphy in 2000; and a son, Stephen in 2010. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, Wis., at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, with a public viewing from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Father Chad Droessler will be officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. Family and friends who wish to view the Mass via LIVE STREAM may visit Jeanne’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com and click on the Live Webcast link at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Redemptorist Missionary Priests at redemptorists.net. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420