Jeanene Lavonne Hestnes Alery

MADISON/BLUE MOUNDS-Jeanene Lavonne Hestnes Alery was born on May 21, 1941 and died peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013. Jeanene grew up in Cottage Grove, the daughter of Alice and Olaf Hestnes. She was baptized and confirmed at West Koshkonong Lutheran Church. Jeanene attended Monona Grove High School, graduating in 1959, and was a proud participant in the Girls from ’59 Reunions. She attended Luther College in Iowa and UW Madison. Jeanene and Tom were married on May 4, 1963 and celebrated their 50th Anniversary with their three children over a lovely dinner at their favorite restaurant in Black Earth. She was a proud stay at home mom for 16 years, then joined the work force and was employed at RMT for 16 years, and retired as Administrative Services Manager in 1996. She was a member of the Madison Horizons Rotary Club serving on the board and as secretary for several years. After retirement, Jeanene and Tom were avid travelers. They travelled to New Zealand, Australia, China, South Korea, Japan, St. Maarten, Estonia, Russia, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, Alaska and the yearly trip to Maine for lobsters and the yearly trip to Disney World with Dyann’s family. Jeanene loved to cook, bake, cross stitch, quilt, read and just enjoyed family and friends old and new. She was a true Packer fan! She was always very proud of her Norwegian heritage. She was preceded in death by her parents, Olaf and Alice Reppen Hestnes; brother Duane; grandparents, Jacob and Josephine Christianson Reppen, and Magnus and Lena Glorstad Hestnes. Jeanene is survived by her husband, Thomas Alery; three children, David (Lisa) Alery of Stevens Point, Dyann (Philip) Black of Fredericksburg, VA, and Renee (William) DuFour of Prairie du Sac; five grandchildren, Nathan and David Black, Jared and Sydney Alery, and Delaney DuFour; aunts, Elaine Reppen and Joan Reppen Stevens; sisters-in-law, JoAnn Alery Kiska, and Jean Hestnes; many nieces and nephews; cousins; and special cousins in Norway and Sweden. A funeral service will be held at St. Dennis Catholic Church, 505 Dempsey Rd., Madison, at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, and at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Agrace HospiceCare Center and/or the UW Carbone Cancer Center. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Dr. (608) 221-5420