Jean Elstad, 101

Jean Kathryn (Galstad) Elstad, 101, passed away peacefully Saturday, January 15, 2022, at Bluffview Memory Care Center in  Holmen, WI. She was born October 16, 1920, to Nordahl and Essie (Monti) Galstad in Genoa, WI.

Jean graduated from Aquinas High School in La Crosse and attended La Crosse Teachers College. On August 7, 1948, Jean married John J. Elstad in La Crosse. They eventually settled in Galesville, WI, where they raised their three children. Jean enjoyed family and friends, golfing, music and dancing, cards (especially Bridge Club) and fishing. Later in life, they moved back to La Crosse. Upon her husband’s passing, Jean moved to Alpharetta, GA, where she lived with her daughter, Kathy, and family until returning to Onalaska to enjoy her final years.

She was our rock: strong, consistent, present, supportive, loving and the best mom ever. We love you, dearest mom, and will miss you always.

Jean is survived by her children, Kathryn (Robert) Ofsdahl, Orin (Jacalyn) Elstad and John (Sharyn) Elstad; grandchildren, Melissa (Wes) Huffman, Emily (Rod) Galvan, Jacob (Megan) Seaton, Eric (Chelsy) Elstad, Lindsay (Chad) Noah, John H. (Sally) Elstad, Casey (Elias) Hildreth and Brian Elstad; great-grandchildren, Hannah (Nicholas Green), Cooper, Ian and Colton Huffman; Sadie and Lucy Seaton; Rylee Zolin-Greek and Lola Elstad; Blake and Parker Noah; Jane, Jocelyn and Corrine Elstad; Alec and Callen Hildreth; great-great grandchild Hudson Green, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband of 42 years, Dr. John J. Elstad, DDS, Jean was preceded in death by an infant sister, Irma; sister Elvena (Galstad) Bettin, and brothers Duane “Duke,” Earl and Robert “Bob” Galstad.

The family extends a special thank you to the staff at Bluffview Memory Care, Holmen for their compassionate and loving care of Mom over the last 10 years. Thank you to Pastor Scott Skogen and Father John Parr for their many visits and prayers.

A funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church at 515 N. Main St. in  Holmen, with Monsignor Steven J. Kachel officiating. Family and friends may visit from 10 a.m. to the time of Mass. Burial will follow the Mass at Toledo Cemetery at 3000 N Pine Creek Road in La Crescent, MN.

Blaschke-Schneider Funeral Home at 1501 West Ave. S. in La Crosse assisted the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Dementia Society of America.