Jean S. Brost

Jean S. Brost, age 92, of Madison, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, tenderly holding hands with Kenneth, her beloved husband of 64 years.   A private family funeral was held at Cress Funeral Home in Madison.   A public memorial celebration of Jean's life will be held in June.   Jean was born September 6, 1918 to Ernest ""Kyle"" and Frieda (Stoiber) Sowle in Tomah, WI.     Jean is survived by her husband and best friend Kenneth, brother Dayton (Bev), sister-in-law Bev Ann (Art), six dear children: Ken (Eileen) Brost Jr., Barbara (Bill) Sippel, Mary (Tom) Misco, Susan (Steve) Kluess, Paul (Debbie) Agarwal, and John England; thirteen grandchildren: Beth Misco (Thomas Neumann), Laura Misco (Chris Schreiber), Katy (Glennon) Park, Amy Brost (Harvey Wang), Tom (Masha) Misco Jr., Andy (Dorie) Kluess, Rachael (Matt) Powell, David Sippel, Emily Kluess, Abby (Matt) Stremcha, Matt Kluess, Sydney and Derek Marion; nine great-grandchildren: Charlie, Anna and Tom Park, Charlotte Neumann, Lela Wang, Mila Misco, Charlie Stremcha, Sam Powell, and Clara Kluess, and many nieces and nephews.   Jean took immense joy in all her family.   Jean was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Joyce (Krug) Krueger, Jewell Sowle, Karyl (Bill) Smythe, brother Art and grandson Ryan Brost.   Jean graduated from Tomah High School at the age of 16.   She moved to Madison to work for the State of Wisconsin, matching farmers with parts needed to repair their equipment and assisting with the gas-rationing program during World War II.   She worked for Sprague-Dawley when she married Kenneth in 1946.   When she left employment to care for their new family, it took three men to replace her, a point of pride for Jean and all the women following in her footsteps.   In addition to their six children, Jean and Kenneth lovingly shared their home with over 50 foster babies, providing a temporary home before their permanent placement by Catholic Social Services.   She continued her extensive community service throughout her life, co-founding the Wisconsin Federation of Foster Parent Organizations, volunteering for the Democratic Party of Dane County and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Edgewood High School, and Tax Counseling for the Elderly.   Much of her volunteer service was spent side-by-side with her husband Kenneth. They became members of Blessed Sacrament parish in 1956.  Jean was abundantly generous with her time and always made those around her feel extraordinary and loved. She was an exceptional person, committed to tolerance, who was a dearly loved wife, mother, sister, aunt, daughter, grandmother, great-grandmother and held in the highest regard by all who knew her. Special thanks to BrightStar, HospiceCare, and Ed Emmenegger, Pastoral Associate at Blessed Sacrament Church in Madison, and the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library.    Donations may be made in her name to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul.