Jean Ann Toepfer

Jean Ann Toepfer (nee Jennings) passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, August 16th 2026, after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, William J. Toepfer, her best friend and soulmate for 70 years. We can only imagine Jean and Bill’s joyous reunion in their red wooden Old Town canoe, with Bill handing her a paddle and saying, “Glad you’re here to paddle the front again,” and off they went down the river.

Jean Ann was born on January 25, 1926, to Gustave and Junita Jennings. She grew up on the south side of Milwaukee with her two younger sisters, Betty Nell and Mildred (Mimi). She graduated from South Division High School in 1943 as the valedictorian of her class. Jean Ann always valued education and went on to attend Marquette University. She graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. She was proud to be considered a pioneer for women in chemistry, as one of only three women in her class of 100. Jean Ann married Bill Toepfer in 1949 after getting to know him through the youth group at Bethany Presbyterian Church. They had attended the same high school but never dated until after Bill returned from serving in WWII. (We think that Jean Ann must have forgiven him for calling her “Jeanie Weenie” in high school and for putting stink bombs in her locker). She and Bill built their first home together on the Fox River in Waterford. Friends and family thought they were crazy to move to “the river” in the middle of winter to renovate an old boathouse into their family home. With determination, trial and error, and a lot of laughter and love, they exceeded even their own expectations and were so proud of their beautiful little home. After a few years, they even had indoor plumbing! They sold their home and moved to “the city” in 1959 to be closer to the family locksmith shop and to provide better schools and opportunities for their children. They remained in their second home on Milwaukee’s south side for the rest of their lives, making many happy memories there with family and friends. Everyone was always welcome to pull up a chair at the kitchen table to talk, share a meal, or have a cup of coffee with a fresh-baked muffin or cookie. Jean Ann and Bill enjoyed the simple things in life. They shared kindness and warmth with everyone they met, and taught everyone by example what it truly means to love one another.

Jean Ann loved her family more than anything and will always be cherished by her children Judy Olson (Matthew Borkowski), Karin Schmeling (Michael), and Laurie Kadunc (Mark). She was the proud Grandma of Eric Campbell (Julia), Eric Olson (Stacy), Rebecca Buran (Aaron), Rachel Hery (Duffy), Kelley Kadunc (Steve Heymes), and Kevin Kadunc (Jessica). She was a special Great-Grandma to the Campbell family, Colin Olson, Lorelei Buran, Elizabeth and Sam Hery, and Keegan, Kyler, and Kennedy Kadunc. In addition, Jean will always be loved by her special nieces and nephews, and many dear friends. In her later years, she especially appreciated her close friends Bob Buran and David Walker. Jean Ann deeply missed her sisters Betty Nell Stingl (Joe) and Mimi Tarnowski (Tom), who preceded her in death.

Jean Ann will always be remembered for her love of the outdoors, especially the north woods of Wisconsin. Jean and Bill took many camping trips together that often included extended family and friends. She had a special talent for creating delicious camping meals for the entire group (sometimes more than 20 people!). Precious memories were made while fishing, canoeing, and telling stories around the campfire.

She enjoyed baking and excelled at converting recipes to more “healthy” options. She loved to share recipes and recite every ingredient in detail. She and Bill even devised a special portable oven so she could continue baking tasty treats (including her famous bran muffins) while camping.

Her creativity was displayed in her crafts that included sewing, embroidery, knitting, and making beaded jewelry. Thanks to Jean, everyone in the family has warm mittens, hats, scarves, and special slippers/“booties” that she referred to as “after-ski socks.”

Later in life, Jean became a loyal Green Bay Packer fan. She enjoyed watching the games and learning the stories of each player. She especially loved the players who overcame adversity and life challenges to make it to the NFL. She would get very upset if she did not feel a player was acting like a “gentleman” on the field and exclaim, “What are we teaching the children?”

Jean enjoyed swimming her entire life. She started at a young age at her grandparents’ summer cottage on Moose Lake. She loved to tell the story of how she got in trouble with “Grammy” for proving that she could swim across the entire lake and back. She was also very proud to tell us how she would swim in the cold waters of Lake Michigan at her Uncle Con’s home in Bay View. In her later years, she found joy in swimming again at Innovative Fitness in Franklin, and then at the Southwest YMCA. Her genuine smile and sincere interest in others led to making many new friends at the “swimming hole,” as she called it. She was honored to be the oldest member at the club, and was humbled when she was chosen “Member of the Month.” She was an inspiration to others and truly lived by her motto, “If you rest you rust.”

We will celebrate Jean Ann’s life with a memorial service on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 10:30 AM at Greendale Community Church, 6015 Clover Lane, Greendale, WI, with Reverend David Gaeth officiating. Private interment will be at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Union Grove, WI. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Friends of Wehr Nature Center (friendsofwehr.org) or Hunger Task Force (hungertaskforce.org) would be greatly appreciated.