Jeanne C. Olmstead

Jeanne Catherine (Schell) Olmstead, 97, of Winona, MN died peacefully, Sunday morning, April 26, 2020, at St. Anne Extended Healthcare Center in Winona.
Jeanne was born August 2, 1922 to Raymond and Helen (Speltz) Schell in the family farm home at Oak Ridge. She was the oldest of her three siblings, Elizabeth (Frank), Broomfield, CO, Charles (Rita), Winona, and Mary (Leo) Rowekamp, Lewiston.
Jeanne attended District 36 School, Mount Vernon Township; grade and high school at Holy Trinity, Rollingstone, graduated June 1, 1940; College of Saint Teresa, B.S. degree June 4, 1944; and Winona State College, M.S. degree July 20, 1969. She was a teacher at Holy Trinity Grade School; Alma, WI High School; Lourdes High School, Rochester; and Lewiston-Altura High School. On October 25, 1947, Jeanne and Roland "Ole" Olmstead of White Pine, MN, were married in Immaculate Conception Church, Oak Ridge. They have one daughter, Marilyn. They celebrated their 40th anniversary in St. Rose of Lima Church hall October 15, 1987. Jeanne assisted Ole in his Dairy Herd Improvement Association of Winona County. Ole died January 4, 1991. When Marilyn entered 9th grade, Jeanne resumed her teaching career of 23 years at the Lewiston-Altura High School.
She was a member of: St. Rose of Lima Parish, Lewiston; St. Nicholas and St. Teresa Catholic Aid Society; Council of Catholic Women; Mount Vernon 4-H Beacons Club (also a leader); Mount Vernon Rural Youth Group; Luxembourg Society, Rollingstone; Southeast Retired Educators Association of MN; Retired Educators of MN; lifetime member of the National Teachers Association; first female member of Lewiston's Planning Commission (secretary); Charter Member of Winona Cathedral's Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Group; member of Cathedral Quilters; Member of Catholic United Financial (formerly called Catholic Aid Association); Charter and life-long member of the Winona Friendship Center; Charter Member of Writing Your Life Class at Winona Friendship Center; served on Lewiston Senior Dining Council; and a member of knitting groups at Watkins Home, Callista Court, and the Friendship Center.
Her hobbies included knitting, crocheting, gardening, and being a sports fan (particularly baseball and basketball). She especially enjoyed writing social letters to numerous relatives and friends, including congratulatory messages for births, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, get well, and sympathy.
Jeanne is survived by her daughter, Marilyn Olmstead, and granddaughter, Marite' Olmstead of Winona. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Charles, an infant sister, Mary Helen, an infant brother, her husband, and her sister, Elizabeth.
A Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m., Saturday, August 1, 2020 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Lewiston. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Cards of Sympathy for the family may be mailed to Hoff Celebration of Life Center, 3480 Service Drive, Winona, MN 55987. Memorial contributions will be donated to Mayo Clinic COVID 19 Research. Please share a memory of Jeanne and view her video tribute at www.hofffuneral.com.