Jean Elizabeth Thompson- Ristau

November 21, 1933 - December 31, 2023

Obituary

STOUGHTON - Jean Elizabeth Thompson Ristau, age 90, of Stoughton, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at Skaalen Heights. She was born on Nov. 21, 1933, in Stoughton, the daughter of Truman and Hazel (Leikness) Skoien and raised by her grandmother, Matilda Skoien.

Jean was united in marriage to Warren Thompson on July 31, 1954. After Warren’s passing, she was united to Robert Ristau on Sept. 29, 2001. She worked in retail for Donna's Fashions for several years. She was a lifetime member of First Lutheran Church. Her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ sustained her throughout her lifetime.

Jean was an amazing cook. Everyone loved her cooking and desserts. She was famous for her apple pie. Being very Norwegian, she loved making lefse and taught her family how to make it too. Jean participated in a yearly lutefisk dinner and hosted annual Syttende Mai parties after the parade. She loved having her family over for Sunday dinner after church. Jean enjoyed taking trips to Door County and Arizona with Bob and traveling out east was a favorite vacation. She loved watching shows at The Fireside Dinner Theater and Stoughton Opera House. She enjoyed tea parties with her grandchildren, playing cards, along with watching the Brewers and attending games.

Jean is survived by her daughter, Barbara Jean (Dick) Lawrence; step-daughters, Nancy (Steve) Holihan, Susan (David) Haugen and Barbara (Jeff) Nees; granddaughters, Gwendolyn (Roger) Myhre-Bartelt, Kimberly (Jim) Overland and Nicole (Matthew) Schreiber; step-granddaughters, Lisa (Brian) Sowls, Julie (Tony) Gerig, Lindsey (Brad) Andrews, Carrie (Andrew) Hayes and Shana (Dan) Caparros; step-grandsons, Andrew (Erin) Haugen, Jeffrey (Mandy) Nees and Bob Holihan; 25 great grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; half-sister, Shirley Skoien; and half-brothers, Truman (Marcia) Skoien Jr., and Lester Skoien. She was preceded in death by her parents, Truman and Hazel; half-brother, Douglas Skoien; husbands, Robert Ristau and Warren Thompson.

A funeral service will be held at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 310 E. Washington St., Stoughton, at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. Burial will be held at Lutheran East Cemetery in Stoughton. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.

A special thank you to Jenny and her staff at Skaalen Heights for the incredible care they provided to Jean. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590

Events

Visitation

Fri Jan 12, 2024 @ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT

First Lutheran Church(Stoughton) • 310 East Washington St, PO Box 322, Stoughton, WI 53589

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Funeral Service

Fri Jan 12, 2024 @ 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM CDT

First Lutheran Church(Stoughton) • 310 East Washington St, PO Box 322, Stoughton, WI 53589

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Diane Marie

Other • 3 years ago

I am so sorry for the passing of our sweet Jean. I knew her as a customer of mine at Merle Norman but we became friends. I will miss our phone calls. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. She and Bob would come visit me at Merle and it felt like we had known each other forever. I will miss the stories about her amazing family that she loved so much and was so proud of . I know that she is in a good place with her loved ones that have already passed on. She lived her life in the light of God always. I am a better person for having known her. I am sure her family feels the same. Continue to take of each other and know that you truly have another angel in heaven. Rejoice in her memories rather than cry in her loss.